Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says newly crowned world champion Kimi Antonelli should be a role model for both upcoming drivers and some of his “entitled” Formula 1 rivals. The 20-year-old Italian become the sport's youngest ever world champion as he wrapped up the title with four rounds to spare at Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix. Antonelli has not only produced a historic campaign in just his second season in F1, but has also charmed his Mercedes colleagues, rivals, and fans with his charm and youthful exuberance.
At the end of his briefing with the written media in Mexico following the race, Wolff gave an unpromoted impassioned speech praising Antonelli. "This notion of win at all costs, selfish, opportunistic, ruthless for your own benefit. That model of racing driver has died," Wolff said.
"We have a new champion that represents values - humility, integrity, loyalty, respect. He should be a role model for many other young drivers in junior formulas. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player "He should be a role model for the few entitled ones in Formula 1 - the endless moaners on the radio, the ones that complain, the ones that crash.
"Look at this kid of 20 years [old] and then think what you can do in order to improve. That's the message to these kids. "That is how the FIA, that Mohammed [Ben Sulayem], that Stefano [Domenicali], that's how I would want to see racing drivers in the future.
"That is modern Formula 1. Kimi represents the modern Formula 1 driver because of those values, not only because of his talent. "The talent is there with everyone.
But you have got to be a good person too. He has demonstrated that you can beat everyone out there by being a good person." Antonelli only needed to finish in the top nine in Mexico to seal the title, but produced a strong drive to finish on the podium behind race winner Max Verstappen, and Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton shares the record for the most F1 titles on seven, while Verstappen has four, and after the race Antonelli appeared to already be thinking about joining them as multiple world champions.
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