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‘Like walking on water’: Wolff hails Antonelli’s Monza miracle

From CNA · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Kimi Antonelli won his home Italian Grand Prix from 19th on the grid, with Mercedes teammate George Russell finishing second.
  • Toto Wolff said Antonelli’s ability to clear traffic after engine penalties made the victory especially remarkable.
  • The result marked the first Italian F1 victory at Monza since 1966 and followed Antonelli’s difficult debut at the circuit two years earlier.

Toto Wolff felt a Mercedes driver could win at Monza, but even he described Kimi Antonelli’s victory from the back of the grid as a Sunday miracle.

The 20-year-old Italian started 19th after engine penalties, with two cars also lining up in the pitlane. He still won his home Italian Grand Prix, while teammate and closest title rival George Russell finished second after starting on the front row.

I thought one of the two (Mercedes drivers) was going to win. George, because he was on pole (at the re-start after the race was red-flagged) or Kimi because he's going to walk over water.

· Toto WolffThe Mercedes team boss described his expectations before the Italian Grand Prix.

“I thought one of the two (Mercedes drivers) was going to win,” Wolff said. “George, because he was on pole (at the re-start after the race was red-flagged) or Kimi because he's going to walk over water.” Wolff added that he had felt the same way the previous day and said Antonelli’s father had also anticipated the result.

When a driver and a car are one, then there's just nothing that can stop them.

· Toto WolffWolff explained what he believed made Antonelli’s comeback victory possible.

Wolff said the decisive part of the victory came when Antonelli worked through traffic after starting at the back. Antonelli became the first Italian to lead the championship into Monza since 1953 and the first Italian F1 driver to win at the circuit, known as the “Temple of Speed,” since 1966.

“When a driver and a car are one, then there's just nothing that can stop them,” Wolff said. He recalled that Antonelli’s 2024 appearance at Monza had ended with the then-teenager crashing during Friday practice under intense local expectations. Two years later, Wolff said, that difficult moment had become the biggest glory of Antonelli’s career. “Even if he wins another 200, that one will remain special.”

Even if he wins another 200, that one will remain special.

· Toto WolffWolff discussed the significance of Antonelli’s victory after his earlier difficult Monza appearance.

Wolff said Antonelli had developed much faster and more completely this year than expected. Russell began the season as the favorite and won the Australian opener, but Antonelli then took five straight victories and changed the championship picture. “It's still surprising and amazing to see how quickly he develops. For me, it's like an AI agent that continuously improves and learns,” Wolff said.

It's still surprising and amazing to see how quickly he develops. For me, it's like an AI agent that continuously improves and learns.

· Toto WolffWolff praised Antonelli’s rapid progress during the season.
About this summary

Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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