Brief

Toto Wolff jokes about pillow for Kimi Antonelli after Singapore podium

Wolff’s comment comes as Antonelli extends his championship lead to 102 points following a third‑place finish in Singapore.

By Felo News Desk · Published Mon, 12 Oct 2026 18:35:29 GMT

Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, joked that he would place a pillow under Kimi Antonelli’s rear to help the 20‑year‑old see the track, after Antonelli secured third place in the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday.

What happened

Antonelli finished third under the lights in Singapore, extending his lead in the drivers’ standings to 102 points ahead of teammate George Russell. The Italian driver moved up from fifth to the podium after late‑race overtakes, despite spending much of the weekend off the pace. Max Verstappen won the race, while Russell recovered to ninth after a poor start.

What the reports add

The Independent reported that Antonelli received a final warning for repeatedly pushing track limits in Singapore, a violation that has led to penalties on several occasions this season. Wolff acknowledged that Antonelli’s aggressive driving creates tension on the Mercedes pit wall.

What was said

Wolff told the outlet, “I have a good strategy, I’m going to put a pillow from the hotel under his a**e, under his butt, so he can actually see the road… because I think it’s like this, you know, he can’t see it (the track). So yeah, under his a**e so he can see, and it stresses us.”

How it came about

Antonelli’s rise follows a dominant season that began with a win at the Spanish Grand Prix on 13 September, where he extended his championship lead to 81 points (Felo coverage). A crash in Baku on 25 September saw Russell take pole while Antonelli retired from qualifying, highlighting the pressure on the young champion (Felo coverage). The Singapore result keeps Antonelli on course to potentially become the youngest world champion at the upcoming Texas round.

Key facts

• Kimi Antonelli finished third in the Singapore Grand Prix, extending his championship lead to 102 points. (independent.co.uk)
• Antonelli received a final warning for repeatedly pushing track limits during the Singapore weekend. (independent.co.uk)
• Mercedes boss Toto Wolff joked about placing a pillow under Antonelli's rear to help him see the track. (independent.co.uk)
• Max Verstappen won the Singapore race while George Russell recovered to ninth place. (independent.co.uk)

Sources

• [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Toto Wolff hails Kimi Antonelli despite ‘stress’ over pushing track limits”