Toto Wolff reveals Kimi Antonelli anguish with 'cool' comparison

Toto Wolff has described Kimi Antonelli using the simile "cool as a cucumber" following his victory at the Spanish Grand Prix.

The Mercedes driver was not the quickest driver at the Madring, with that honour going to Lando Norris, but took advantage of a fortuitously timed virtual safety car to clinch his eighth win of the F1 season from second on the grid.

In doing so, the 20-year-old increased his lead over team-mate George Russell in the drivers' standings to 81 points, with eight or nine rounds to go.

However, Antonelli — and not for the first time this year — stressed out Wolff on the pit wall with his flat-out nature, despite comfortably controlling the latter stages of the 57-lap race in Madrid.

When appraising his driver's performance and his tendency to push the limit even when leading, the Mercedes team principal told Sky Sports F1: "I think he's cool - sometimes an inch too cool!

"When he brushes the wall five laps from the end and comes on the radio, 'check the car,' you're like, 'really, again, white lines, walls,' but maybe that's how he keeps himself in the zone.

"Almost his youth helps him a lot because he's 20. He could stay in this sport for 20 years with so many opportunities. He's so above all of our expectations and his own. He's just going with the flow.

"I think there is also a genetic factor. You are born cool as a cucumber, or you're not."

Wolff - 'You see junior drivers crumbling in Formula 2'

Wolff, expanding on his remarks, highlighted how Antonelli differs from other young drivers with his ability to absorb pressure without wilting from the expectations of the moment.

With a healthy advantage in the F1 drivers' championship, the Italian only needs to consistently rack up points over the remainder of the schedule.

However, he shows no signs of letting up and is perfectly content to continue in his current gear.

"You can see this in junior formula or karting - taking pressure easier," Wolff added. He's taken this to another level.

"We are talking about Formula 1. You see junior drivers crumbling in Formula 2.

"He's just doing his thing. We told him, 'This is a race where we need to bring it home, need to score points whether it's P2 or P5, we don't care, just drive it home'.

"He does that and goes fast."