Toto Wolff told Kimi Antonelli to stop his \u201cnonsense\u201d during Sunday\u2019s Chinese Grand Prix as the Italian raced to victory ahead of his teammate George Russell.<\/p>\n
Antonelli made F1 history at the Shanghai Circuit as the Italian, at just 19 years, six months and 18 days old, became the sport\u2019s youngest-ever pole-sitter. He beat Sebastian Vettel\u2019s record of 21 years, two months and 11 days.<\/p>\n
Toto Wolff tells Kimi Antonelli to \u2018stop nonsense\u2019 during Chinese Grand Prix win<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n Lining up P1 on the grid for the first time, Antonelli<\/a> wasn\u2019t in a position to break the youngest race winner record as Max Verstappen had secured that at 18 years, seven months and 15 days old, but, more importantly, there was a first grand prix win on the cards.<\/p>\n The Mercedes driver lost the lead to Lewis Hamilton into Turn 1, but was back up to P1 on the second lap when he powered past the Ferrari driver into the hairpin. From there, Antonelli didn\u2019t look back.<\/p>\n He put in a near-flawless display as he built up a lead over the squabbling trio of George Russell, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.<\/p>\n It meant Antonelli went into the final three laps leading his Mercedes teammate by nine seconds. However, a lock-up and off at the hairpin, a driver error, saw his lead slashed by Russell.<\/p>\n Go deeper: PF1 analysis of the Chinese GP<\/p>\n Chinese GP conclusions: Verstappen sabbatical fear, mixed Hamilton feelings, McLaren Powertrains<\/a><\/p>\n Chinese GP driver ratings: Antonelli shines, Hamilton impresses and Ocon falters<\/a><\/p>\n Wolff was immediately on the radio to Antonelli\u2019s race engineer Peter Bonnington.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s typical Kimi, and I said to Bono, \u2018Tell him to stop with this nonsense. We just need to drive it home, we don\u2019t need any fastest laps anymore\u2019,\u201d he told F1TV.<\/p>\n \u201cBut that\u2019s him.\u201d<\/p>\n Antonelli took the chequered flag five seconds ahead of Russell with his predecessor at Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, in third place.<\/p>\n The Italian\u2019s victory prompted a telling message from Wolff to his young driver over the radio.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s too young. We shouldn\u2019t put him in a Mercedes. Put him in a smaller team. He needs the experience. Look at the mistakes he makes,\u201d Wolff said.<\/p>\n \u201cHere we go Kimi. Victory.\u201d<\/p>\n The Austrian was asked about that message when he spoke with the media after the Shanghai race.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know when things go bad, there are the people that come out and say \u2018that was a bad decision, and Mercedes took too much risk\u2019, and it was never like really harsh criticism, because people recognise the talent that he has,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n \u201cBut there were many voices within the sport and outside that said that was a mistake so it\u2019s nice to have a little remark.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut,\u201d he continued, \u201cobviously it\u2019s one race win. Today, it\u2019s great. In two weeks we are in Japan, and he puts it in the wall.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I think we need to just keep feet on the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cRemember last year, Kimi and whatever it was, and there was an avalanche of pressure. There shouldn\u2019t be any pressure at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n The Austrian doubled down on his belief in the Italian racer.<\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s been such a long road with him, since he was 11 he was a Mercedes junior. Many people last year in those bad moments when he crashed the car and even in Monza at the first one, said \u2018don\u2019t you think he\u2019s too young, shouldn\u2019t you put him in a smaller team with less pressure?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cBut we continued in our belief that he can do that, and now we are reaping the rewards. And he\u2019s won his first grand prix.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n