Wolff predicts Antonelli could dominate F1 for 20 years: 'Cool as a cucumber'

Wolff, who oversaw six of Lewis Hamilton's title-winning seasons and one by Nico Rosberg in 2016, had already forecast before the Madrid weekend that Antonelli would "walk on water" to win the Italian Grand Prix from 19th on the grid. The young Italian duly picked his way through the field to record one of the most extraordinary wins in Formula 1. After his latest, more comfortable victory in Madrid, Wolff predicted that Antonelli would be around for a long time to come.

The praise marks a dramatic shift from just 12 months ago. At the 2025 Italian Grand Prix, Wolff admitted Antonelli's entire weekend was "underwhelming" after the teenager struggled at his home race, qualifying seventh and finishing ninth. Wolff went from building a protective dome around Antonelli to applying a dose of tough love in the media. Antonelli had been projected as an understudy to Russell for the first two or three years before usurping him, but instead he has already driven his more experienced stablemate to despair.

Wolff also told Sky Sports F1 in Madrid that he sees a "genetic factor" in Antonelli's composure, noting that it is visible from junior formula and karting, where the Italian has taken his calmness under pressure to "another level" compared to drivers who crumble in Formula 2.

Meanwhile, Wolff said Mercedes had also made strong progress as a team and had no intention of easing off despite leading the teams' title race by 145 points ahead of Ferrari while Antonelli heads teammate Russell by 81 points.

His sweeping career prediction came alongside lighter post-race moments from Madrid, where he jokingly called Antonelli "what an idiot" for brushing the wall in the closing laps, as GPBlog previously reported. With Hamilton having conceded the title fight and rivals lining up to praise Antonelli's dominance, Wolff placing a 20-year ceiling on his young driver's career is the boldest public endorsement of any team principal this season.