Wolff wary of Italy's World Cup failure adding to hype around Antonelli

MIAMI, May 3 : Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said he would need to keep a handbrake on the hype as Kimi Antonelli's sensational start to the Formula One season provides Italy with a feelgood story after their soccer side's failure to qualify for the World Cup finals.

Hope and expectations are soaring at home as the 19-year-old Italian driver, the sport's youngest ever championship leader, goes from success to success with the Miami Grand Prix weekend producing a third pole position and win in a row.

Wolff said keeping feet on the ground was the easier part, thanks to the support of the youngster's family.

"The bigger problem is the Italian public," said the Austrian, whose team have won all four races this season.

"Now that they are not qualified for the football, it's all about (tennis world number one Jannik) Sinner and Antonelli. It's the two that are, you know, superstars. And that's something which we need to contain.

"There are so many requests for his time from the media, from sponsors. Now it's on us to keep the handbrake on. The risk is that he is being carried away too quickly."

The World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada, gets underway on June 11 and four-times champions Italy are not part of it after failing to qualify for the third time in a row.

Sinner on Sunday became the first man to win five successive Masters 1000 titles after he crushed Alexander Zverev 6-1 6-2 in the Madrid Open final.

BEST RACE SO FAR

Wolff said Sunday's race at the Hard Rock Stadium was Antonelli's best yet.

"It reminds me of his karting days, there were no mistakes," he said.

"The pressure on him he takes it so well, analyses it but doesn't overthink it... we just really need to stay calm here because such success for such a young