Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says the performances that have earned Kimi Antonelli his first three Formula 1 victories in successive races have been "astounding" and that the world championship leader's Miami Grand Prix win on Sunday was his best drive to date.
Antonelli became just the third driver in the sport's history to claim his first three wins in consecutive races by recovering from losing the lead from pole position to triumph over McLaren's Lando Norris.
The result extended the 19-year-old Italian's lead at the top of the drivers' standings, moving him 20 points clear of his team-mate George Russell, who was widely expected to be the Silver Arrows' lead title contender under F1's new regulations for 2026.
"It's astounding these few races," Wolff said after Sunday's race. "In a way, what we predicted as a team, that we would have ups and downs last season, moments of brilliance, moments where you want to tear your hair out.
"And this year, it's coming together. I don't think that any of us would have expected this kind of run.
"To give him a car that is very good, an engine that is right. But how he's been able to monetise on that every single weekend is special."
Antonelli experienced highs and lows during his rookie campaign last year, but appears to have taken a big step forward and has now been installed as the favourite with UK bookmakers for the Drivers' Championship.
For the sixth time in as many races this season, including two Sprints, he lost positions at the start, but produced another mature drive in Miami to undercut Norris at the only round of pit stops and then hold off the reigning world champion.
"For me, it was his best race so far," Wolff added. "It reminds me of his karting days and Formula 4. There were no mistakes."
Antonelli was fast-tracked into F1 as Mercedes sought a replacement for Lewis Hamilton when the seven-time world champion announced in 2024 that he was joining Ferrari the following year.
The decision was questioned at times during 2025, particularly as Antonelli struggled during the middle of the season, but he now appears to be living up to his billing as a generational talent.
Antonelli admitted after the race that he "did not expect" to be leading the championship at this stage, but also that he is growing more confident with each positive result.
"I did not expect it," Antonelli said. "And yeah, I mean we're living such a good moment, but as I said before, it's still a very long season and there's so many things that can change."
Russell claimed his struggles in Miami were down to a dislike for the track, and that assessment will be put to the test in three weeks' time in Canada when the season continues at a circuit the Brit has excelled at in the past.
Antonelli added: "George, for sure, is going to be super strong in Canada. He's always been very strong there, so he's for sure going to be at the top.
"But I feel much more comfortable in the car, much more in control as well, and I think we're just going to keep trying our best.
"I'm going to try to maximise every time I go on track but let's see how Canada will be, hopefully we can repeat ourselves like this weekend, but we'll see how the upgrades work.
"I'm really proud of the job the team are doing and I'm really enjoying the journey."
Wolff warned Antonelli not to be carried away by the fervour of the Italian public as he put his young driver alongside tennis "superstar" Jannik Sinner.
Antonelli's three wins - his first in F1 - have come on the same day that Sinner clinched victory in Indian Wells, Miami and Madrid.
Wolff, who has overseen seven drivers' championship wins, believes there is fierce pressure on his blossoming star.
"The easiest bit is making sure that he keeps both feet on the ground within the team, his parents have done a great job in keeping him grounded," Wolff said.
"The bigger problem is the Italian public. Now that they are not qualifying for football it is all about Sinner and Antonelli. I think Sinner won in Madrid so it is the two superstars and that is something that we need to contain.
"There are so many requests for his time. It's on us to keep the handbrake on that.
"We just really need to stay calm here because such success for such a young man at this stage, all of Italy will be on him.
"Sinner and Antonelli, Antonelli and Sinner. We have won three Grands Prix, Sinner is world No 1 and has won many grand slams."
Formula 1 next heads to Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix and another Sprint weekend. Watch live on Your Site F1 on May 22-24.
