Wolff brands F1 rivals 'entitled moaners' as teenage champion Antonelli becomes his role model

Toto Wolff launched an unprompted broadside at unnamed Formula 1 drivers on Sunday, branding some of the sport’s competitors “entitled” and “endless moaners on the radio” moments after Kimi Antonelli sealed the world championship with a third-place finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The 20-year-old Italian, driving for Mercedes, clinched the title with four races to spare and became the youngest champion in the history of the sport.

Wolff made his remarks at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez during the post-race media session, asking to add a final point as the briefing was being wrapped up. He did not name any of the drivers he had in mind.

“This notion of win at all costs, selfish, opportunistic, ruthless for your own benefit — that model of racing driver has died,” Wolff told reporters. “We have a new champion that represents values like humility, like integrity, loyalty, respect, being himself. Should be a role model for many other young drivers in junior formulas. And 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.”

Wolff said he had discussed the subject with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and framed Antonelli’s success as the template that FIA chief Ben Sulayem and Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali should want to see replicated across the grid.

“Look at this kid of 20 years and then think what you can do in order to improve,” he added. “He has demonstrated that you can beat everyone out there by being a good person.”

The Mercedes boss also revealed the message he had delivered to Antonelli on the eve of the race, drawing on a remark made by Lapo Elkann about his late grandfather, Fiat chairman Gianni Agnelli.

“Lapo Elkann said to me about his granddad that he was able to stay relevant his whole life,” Wolff said. “And what I said to him is: together we have to try for you to stay relevant all life. You have 25 years to go because you’re going to drive longer than anybody else did before.”

Antonelli’s championship arrives in his debut full season in Formula 1, capping a rapid rise through the junior ranks under Mercedes’ driver development programme. His title with four rounds remaining underlines the scale of a triumph that has drawn comparisons with the sport’s most celebrated early-career champions.