Wolff: Young drivers need time to grow and improve.

      Popov dismisses 'absurd' Antonelli record hype

      Russian F1 commentator Alexey Popov has mocked the claims that Kimi Antonelli has "broken" Lewis Hamilton’s rookie-season points record, labeling the comparison as irrelevant. At Interlagos, the 19-year-old Mercedes rookie reached 122 points, surpassing seven-time world champion Hamilton’s rookie total of 109 points from 2007. However, Popov highlighted the fundamental difference in the points systems.

      "My friends, are you out of your minds?" he remarked during a stream on The Lights Go Out. "Lewis earned 109 points when a win was worth 10 points. Now it’s worth 25!"

      "I’m not undermining Kimi. He’s impressive, but..."

      Antonelli currently ranks seventh in the world championship following Brazil, just behind his predecessor Hamilton, who is facing challenges in his first season at Ferrari.

      Hamilton himself responded more favorably, seizing the opportunity to support F1’s new talent while also taking a jab at some former drivers turned commentators.

      "It’s fantastic to see young drivers making an impact," said the 40-year-old. "I remember being one of them back in 2007. The pressure is significant, and these young men face a barrage of inquiries and social media messages. Yet, they manage it admirably.

      "Even after I step back, I’ll continue to champion the younger generation. There’s often a lot of negativity from older drivers who haven’t accomplished much. I find it inspiring to see these young athletes working diligently, smiling through the challenges, and succeeding."

      Meanwhile, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff called for caution after witnessing hype sometimes turn into criticism for his young driver in 2025.

      "You must allow young drivers time to grow," he stated when discussing Antonelli’s comeback from a mid-season dip. "With these highly sophisticated cars and tire management, which even seasoned veterans struggle with, development doesn’t happen instantly."

      Wolff also warned that the greatest threat to Antonelli’s progress is the pressure of expectations.

      "In Italy, he was already being celebrated as a legend—which is entirely unwarranted for someone who has only participated in 20 Grands Prix," Wolff cautioned. "That kind of expectation isn’t beneficial for Kimi."

Other articles

Audi clarifies that the F1 concept car is not the competitor for 2026. Formula 1 | Audi has sought to clarify the misunderstanding regarding the show car unveiled in Munich last week, as some observers mistakenly believed that the eye-catching vehicle symbolized (…)

F1 faces accusations of censoring jokes during the London launch event. Formula 1 | Comedian Jack Whitehall has revealed how tightly regulated jokes and references are during the sport's prestigious live launch event (…)

Ecclestone suggests that Horner may return to Ferrari. Formula 1 | Bernie Ecclestone has rejected the recent surge of unfounded rumors connecting him and former Red Bull chief Christian Horner to an alleged (…)

New prototype images confirm that the Audi RS6 Sedan will return for the 2027 model year. The RS6 will make a comeback with a four-door version once more.

Pirelli limited the distance for one set of tires. Pirelli has decided to limit the distance that can be covered on a single set of tyres at the Qatar Grand Prix.