Kimi Antonelli, new investiture does not surprise the'experienced manager (who retorts to Toto Wolff)
Kimi Antonelli’s 2026 is taking on ever brighter contours. Thanks to his results in this incredible first part of the season in Formula 1, the young Mercedes driver is helping to make the queen category of motorsport increasingly Italian, beyond Ferrari’s contribution. Even Time included him among this year’s 100 most influential sportspeople: an investiture that does not surprise Mario Miyakawa, an Italian-Japanese manager known for having taken care of the interests of top athletes even in F1, such as Jean Alesi.
“Kimi is doing something extraordinary,” Miyakawa said while speaking to Sky Sport 24. Certainly this year’s Mercedes is a factor, but it is also thanks to his way of being and the education given to him by his family that he is achieving these results. As a 19-year-old boy, he represents for many the symbol of a generation entering the adult world with ambition and responsibility. What’s more, in addition to excelling at his job, he manages to keep his head on his shoulders.”
The year 2026 has already delivered Antonelli heavy victories, a world leadership unexpected for a boy his age, and a maturity that surprised even the Mercedes men. But his progress has also inevitably turned the spotlight on his internal team relationship, particularly his rivalry with George Russell. “I don’t think he expected this,” Miyakawa said, referring to the Briton. “After Hamilton’s exit, he felt he was the team’s leader: the perseverance, strength and even aggressiveness Kimi is showing are putting him in trouble.”
Toto Wolff, the German team’s grand boss, continues to defend and value both, asking Italian fans not to indulge in premature celebrations. Miyakawa, however, is clear: “It’s useless for Toto to ask the Italians to ‘don’t make a fuss,'” the manager said, quoting directly from one of Wolff’s latest interviews. “The important thing is for Kimi not to get too excited, because F1 can change from one race to the next, we saw that with Piastri last year as well. But we want to do the cheering, even making noise.”
