Domenicali breaks silence on rising Antonelli hype as F1 buzz intensifies

Antonelli has begun the 2026 Formula 1 campaign in impressive fashion, securing four consecutive race victories following his second-place finish at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Last time out in Canada, the young Italian extended his championship lead to 43 points over his teammate George Russell.

Speaking on the Seven Lives podcast hosted by Italian media personality Hoara Borselli, Domenicali was asked whether Antonelli could emerge as the new face of Formula 1. The 61-year-old motorsport chief moved quickly to temper expectations, while still acknowledging the scale of the youngster’s early achievements.

“Kimi Antonelli is an extraordinary talent. He’s still a very natural character and doesn’t yet have that, how can I put it, that ‘superstructure’ that comes with years of living in this environment, where from one day to the next you become a hero,” Domenicali said.

The F1 chief went on to stress the importance of managing expectations around the Mercedes driver.

“What I wish for him is that he stays as he is for as long as possible. He’s still young, he comes from a family that has always supported and protected him, and from a team that has always believed in him. That needs to be recognised, but at the same time, we have to let him grow without putting too much pressure on him. He needs time to mature, although winning three Grands Prix in a row is not something many achieve, so it shows how strong he is inside,” he added.

Domenicali also said he appreciates the youthful innocence Antonelli still carries, while warning of the realities that come with life at the top of the sport.

“I also like these young people who are still, in a way, like 19-year-olds should be, with a bit of naivety. That’s actually beautiful. But someone has to help him understand that the world we live in is not always one where people smile at you just because they’re genuinely happy for what you do. It’s a world where you sometimes have to build a shield,” he concluded.

Earlier, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff also shared his thoughts on the team’s prospects heading into the Monaco Grand Prix weekend. The Austrian highlighted the prestige and history of the event, while stressing that Mercedes must build performance across every session to maximise their chances.

Wolff underlined the unique demands of qualifying at the tight and technical street circuit, noting that success in Monaco is heavily dependent on Saturday’s performance. He added that the Brackley-based team are approaching the weekend without assumptions or performance guarantees, given how fine the margins are in the Principality.

Mercedes have enjoyed a near-flawless start to the 2026 campaign, winning all five races so far and firmly leading both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships.

However, Monaco has historically been a more challenging venue for the team in recent years. Their only victory there in the last five editions came in 2019, when Lewis Hamilton finished ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas. At the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix, with Russell and Antonelli at the wheel, Mercedes endured a difficult weekend, finishing 11th and 18th, respectively.