Wolff hails Antonelli's title as end of 'win at all costs' F1 era

Kimi Antonelli sealed the 2026 Formula One drivers' championship with third place at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, prompting his Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff to declare the sport's old breed of ruthless racer finished.

The Italian, who finished behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in the race, is 20 years and 68 days old, beating Sebastian Vettel's previous record for F1's youngest champion by three years, according to Yahoo Sports. He is also the first Italian to win the title since Alberto Ascari in 1953, and secured it with four races still to run, in only his second season in the sport.

Wolff, who has worked with Antonelli since the driver was 12, used the end of his post-race media briefing to deliver an unprompted assessment of what his success represented for Formula One.

"This notion of win at all costs, selfish, opportunistic, ruthless for your own benefit, that model of racing driver has died. We have a new champion that represents values," Wolff said, according to the Guardian. "Humility, integrity, loyalty, respect. Being himself. He should be a role model for many other young drivers."

Wolff went further, framing Antonelli as a corrective example for parts of the current grid without naming anyone directly. "He should be a role model for the few entitled ones in Formula One. The endless moaners on the radio. The ones that complain, the ones that crash. Look at this kid of 20 years and then think what you can do in order to improve. That's the message to these kids."

The race itself illustrated the contrast Wolff was drawing. Ferrari teammates Hamilton and Charles Leclerc clashed on the opening lap, while Antonelli avoided the chaos entirely on his way to the podium finish that confirmed the title, Yahoo Sports reported.

Wolff's praise reflected a season in which Antonelli has topped the standings throughout while racing cleanly, a point echoed by rival champions. Hamilton, Verstappen and Lando Norris all offered similar praise for the young Mercedes driver, while his teammate George Russell, comprehensively outperformed by Antonelli this year, has acknowledged his honest approach on track.

Wolff suggested the sport's leadership shared his view of what a modern F1 driver should look like. "That is how the FIA, that Mohammed, that Stefano, that I would want to see racing drivers in the future," he said, referring to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali. "That is modern Formula One."

Antonelli has indicated he intends to keep car number 12 next season, according to the Guardian, as he prepares to defend the title he has claimed as the sport's youngest ever champion with four rounds of the 2026 season still to be run.