Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has likened Kimi Antonelli to Formula One greats after the 20-year-old driver's victory at the Italian Grand Prix. Antonelli started 19th on the grid and fought through the field to win, beating his Mercedes teammate George Russell.
Wolff cited the win as similar to some of the best achieved by seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton. He also suggested Antonelli would likely remember the race as one of the greatest of his career.
Antonelli, in his second season, now leads the world championship by 66 points over Russell and 76 points over Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, with 10 races left in the season.
Wolff also compared Antonelli's ability to learn and improve to that of advanced artificial intelligence. He stated that Antonelli "continuously self-improves and learns."
Russell acknowledged Antonelli's commanding position, stating, "It is definitely Kimi who is in control of it and he is deserving to be in control."