P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Kimi Antonelli has won two of the first three grands prix of the 2026 Formula 1 season, putting him at the top of the drivers’ standings, something Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff describes as an ‘unpredictable’ outcome.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff praised Kimi Antonelli’s ‘unpredictable’ success, securing two wins in the first three races of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Despite high expectations for Mercedes and George Russell, Antonelli’s strong performance has been a surprise after a mixed rookie season last year. Wolff had hoped for Antonelli’s success when he was given the seat 18 months ago, and now sees it coming to fruition. Antonelli became the second youngest race winner in history and currently leads the championship, exceeding expectations. Wolff highlighted the challenges faced by Russell in Japan, where poor luck and errors resulted in a difficult weekend for the Mercedes driver.
