A water park, “not a rock star” and Wolff’s words – Is Antonelli really a different F1 champion?

When the media session with Toto Wolff on Sunday evening was effectively over and all the journalists had asked their questions in the Mercedes hospitality unit, the team principal picked up the microphone one more time – which, by the way, is very appropriately adorned with a Mercedes star.

“Let me say one more word, now that I have all of you here,” the Austrian said.

Before Wolff sent the assembled journalists out into the Mexican night and presumably went off to celebrate the title himself with a drink (or two), there was something else he wanted to make clear – a subject he had already discussed with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem shortly before that media session and before the team photos had been taken in the pitlane.

“I discussed it with someone else out there, with Mohammed, actually. 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 like humility, integrity, loyalty, respect and being himself.”

Wolff added that he hopes Antonelli will be seen as a role model in two respects, both for youngsters and for some of his older colleagues in F1.

“It should be a role model for many other young drivers in the junior formulas. And it 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 and then think what you can do in order to improve. That's the message.

Watch: Kimi: Two Years that Changed Everything

“That is how the FIA, Mohammed, Stefano [Domenicali], and 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.”

Back in the media centre, the most frequently asked question was who exactly Wolff had been referring to. The names of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were considered unlikely, given that the Austrian enjoys a very good relationship with both. He would not normally describe either of them in those terms. With Wolff referring to older drivers, one's thoughts might turn in a particular direction, but, to be fair, exactly who Wolff had in mind is of secondary importance.

“To me, he’s still a kid” – Wolff on Brits hugging each other, a water park and no alcohol

What is more interesting is to examine Wolff's words about Antonelli, and on a human level, at least, it is fair to say that he is absolutely right.

"We're dealing with very stiff unemotional English people that are like this and then suddenly this Italian boy comes in that starts to hug everyone in the garage" Toto Wolff

The Italian's youthful enthusiasm is infectious. In press conferences and other media appearances, Antonelli is generally one of the more pleasant drivers to speak to, simply because he genuinely makes an effort to give you a proper answer and comes across as exceptionally friendly and polite – in the good times and, last year, in the more difficult ones too.

Moreover, it is not an act, but entirely genuine, and that is something other drivers have noticed as well. Indeed, perhaps one of the nicest compliments of recent weeks came from Verstappen, a compliment that had nothing to do with his abilities as a driver. Instead, the Dutchman emphasised how normal, modest and down-to-earth Antonelli has remained: “He's just a normal guy. He doesn't act like he's a rock star or a superstar. He's just very genuine. He has a good heart, and I really appreciate that.”

And that is precisely the heart of the matter. So far, Kimi has remained wonderfully true to himself, and that youthful enthusiasm is infectious. It is not just apparent in his media appearances, but, according to Wolff, within the team as well. One example the team principal often brings up – including during our special 'Dutch' media session at Zandvoort this year – is the effect Antonelli has had on team members.

Antonelli has not only delivered on-track for Mercedes but he's also brought joy into the garage

Photo by: Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images

“We're dealing with very stiff unemotional English people that are like this and then suddenly this Italian boy comes in that starts to hug everyone in the garage. And you can see how it's changed also the environment. Now all the Brits are hugging each other, which is weird to see!” Wolff laughed.

This might seem like a trivial detail, but it is not. Building a team around yourself as a driver is something that has characterised many great champions, with Michael Schumacher, Hamilton and Verstappen among the examples from the relatively recent past. Goodwill among mechanics is of course primarily earned through performances on the track – making team members think 'this is the guy who can deliver the results for us' – but it certainly does no harm to have people liking you as a person as well.

In Kimi's case, it is partly his personality and partly his youthful innocence, about which Wolff said after securing the world title: “He’s still a kid. We see this world champion in him and the maturity that he has shown in the way he went about, but I still see the same kid…”

Wolff added with a laugh that this might have something to do with his own age and the fact that he is getting a little older, but it is also simply related to how Kimi behaves away from the circuit.

“He's a kid. You see him driving and the maturity in his interaction with our partners, but then for his birthday he goes to the water park! And that is so great to see. I was like, 'where is Kimi, I need to speak to him.' But then they said, 'Kimi is in a water park with his friends.' We love that.”

As well as calling him a kid, Wolff rightly adds that Antonelli is a pure racer, someone who, for now, does not allow himself to be distracted too much and has never even had a drop of alcohol. “Well, he doesn't drink any alcohol, zero. Which on one hand is good, but on the other hand, there needs to be a moment where also matures in that respect,” the Mercedes team boss smiled. “And that he's being downed [with] his first tequila. I'm not sure whether it's going to happen today, but eventually it will.”

Antonelli himself has already indicated that he would prefer to keep his focus on the grand prix in Sao Paulo, where he once again visited the grave of his idol Ayrton Senna. He says he will celebrate properly once he returns to Europe, which means Las Vegas might be the perfect opportunity to ask whether he actually had that first alcoholic drink on Wolff's recommendation.

Antonelli has shown he can get his elbows out when needed - like his battle against Russell in Canada

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

All joking aside, this is wonderful to see: Kimi approaches everything with a refreshing innocence, and that carefree attitude is not only infectious, but perhaps also a weapon. Whereas George Russell has admitted to overthinking things at certain moments this season, Antonelli has that same carefree approach both on and off the track, taking everything as it comes.

It means that on a personal level, Wolff is 100% right, and Antonelli's genuine nature is an absolute blessing. Whether what the Mercedes team principal said also holds true in terms of Antonelli as a racing driver – that a different type of champion has emerged, one who is no longer selfish and ruthless – remains to be seen.

In my view, only time will tell. After all, that killer instinct and a certain degree of selfishness might actually be necessary. Not so much this year, given the dominance Antonelli has enjoyed for large parts of the season, but certainly if another battle like, say, 2021 comes along. That demands different things, and it would be impossible for everything to remain as friendly every weekend as it has been this year.

Certain drivers who became world champions early in their careers changed somewhat later on as a result of fame, money and everything that comes with it

Antonelli certainly seems to have that side to him, the ability to be razor-sharp when necessary. Just think back to this year's Canadian Grand Prix and how fiercely that battle was fought before Russell's retirement. And also what he said in the press conference after the sprint, when I asked him about the Mercedes battle and whether he would change his approach if what had just happened at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was considered acceptable: “For sure.”