'Walking over water': Wolff reveals he predicted Antonelli's historic Monza charge

Antonelli was forced to start from the tail end of the pack following an engine penalty, but the Mercedes prodigy delivered a breathtaking drive in front of his home crowd.

Speaking to the media in the Monza paddock after the chequered flag, Wolff revealed that he had already sensed something historic brewing before the lights even went out on Sunday.

According to Wolff, who called Antonelli an AI agent,the energy surrounding the 20-year-old throughout the weekend made it clear that a back-of-the-grid start would not stop him from aiming directly for the top step of the podium.

"It must have been a while that I've seen a driver's energy levels, I think, mindset or behavioural pattern, and I knew that that was his mission today: to win the race," Wolff stated.

Wolff was quick to point out how well both of his drivers managed the unique pressure of fighting each other while keeping the bigger picture in mind.

The Austrian also touched on the wheel-to-wheel combat between his pairing, admitting it had the Mercedes pit wall holding its breath at stages.

The dynamic between the Mercedes drivers is particularly critical given George Russell's championship aspirations. When asked directly whether Russell's hopes of clinching the drivers' crown are now slipping away after Monza, Wolff firmly rejected the idea that anything is decided.