Toto Wolff raises Kimi Antonelli concern: 'It's really not good'

Toto Wolff has shared his apprehension over the way Kimi Antonelli's maiden grand prix victory will be viewed.

The Mercedes team principal is fearful over the "hype" it will generate in Italy, his driver's home nation, arguing that it is "really not good" so early in his F1 career.

The 19-year-old triumphed in the Chinese Grand Prix, becoming the first Italian driver to take victory in the championship since Giancarlo Fisichella 20 years ago.

If a two-decade wait for a grand prix win was not bad enough, no driver from the South European nation has won the F1 drivers' championship since 1953, a travesty for a country with such a rich history in motorsport.

As such, Wolff is worried about the pressure and weight of expectation that might mount on Antonelli, who trails team-mate George Russell by four points in the standings after the round at the Shanghai International Circuit.

Speaking to the media, including RacingNews365, the Mercedes boss said: "First of all, you can see the hype that is going to start now, especially in Italy.

"I can already see the headlines: 'World champion, grande Kimi' and whatever. And that's really not good, because those mistakes are going to come.

"He's just a kid, so it's too early to even think about a championship. We have a good car that, at this stage, is capable of winning."

However, the Austrian was quick to point out that whilst Mercedes holds an advantage at this early stage of the campaign and regulations cycle, the F1 gamesmanship could pin the Brackley-based squad back.

The 54-year-old also highlighted how difficult it will be for Antonelli, in just his second season in the series, to go toe-to-toe with the vastly more experienced Russell.

"Let's see what kind of political knives are going to come out in the next few weeks and months," he added. "But at the moment, it is a car that is capable of winning.

"Both have equal opportunity, but so long to talk about winning championships, and I think as a young person, he just needs the maturity to grow. And he has a fantastic driver as a team-mate, who is eight years longer in that spot."