MIAMI - Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says he must keep a lid on expectations as Kimi Antonelli's dominant start to the Formula One season makes him Italy's new sporting hero-especially after the national soccer team failed to qualify for the World Cup.
The 19-year-old Italian leads the championship after winning four of the first five races, including a third straight pole and victory at the Miami Grand Prix over the weekend.
Wolff said the bigger challenge isn't the teenager himself, but the Italian public.
"Now that they are not qualified for the football, it's all about Jannik Sinner and Antonelli," Wolff said. "It's the two that are superstars. There are so many requests from media, from sponsors. The risk is that he is being carried away too quickly."
Italy will miss the 2026 World Cup-co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada-for the third consecutive time. Meanwhile, Sinner, Italy's world No. 1 tennis star, just won his fifth straight Masters 1000 title.
Wolff called Sunday's Miami race Antonelli's best yet, comparing it to his flawless karting days. With teammate George Russell 20 points behind, the team boss stressed the long-term picture.
"We don't want to stumble now with these huge expectations," Wolff said.