• Mercedes team principal hits out at ‘selfish’ drivers

• Antonelli says he will keep No 12 on his car next season

The Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, has described his Formula One world champion Kimi Antonelli as a new kind of racing driver who represents the future of the sport, com­paring him scathingly to what he called some of the entitled ­moaners on the grid and declaring “selfless, ruthless” drivers now dead to F1.

Antonelli secured his first world title in Mexico City on Sunday, at 20 years old becoming the ­youngest F1 champion in only his second season in the sport. The ­Italian’s attitude, enthusiasm and sense of fair play have been notable in a revelatory season for a driver so young and Wolff believes he has proved to be a gamechanger in more ways than one.

• Driver on verge of claiming championship in Mexico

• ‘The drive was exceptional. He outperformed the car’

The Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, has paid tribute to Kimi Antonelli, who all but closed out his first Formula One world cham­pionship with a victory at the US Grand Prix that Wolff described as the Italian’s best race.

Wolff was at pains to point out the considerable efforts made by a number of other people in bringing the young Italian to the verge of a record-breaking title.

• Principal denies bias towards Antonelli over Russell

• Verstappen takes pole in sprint qualifying in Singapore

Toto Wolff has condemned accusations of bias in how he has managed his drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, with the Mercedes team principal describing those positing such theories as better off watching “Teletubbies or Mickey Mouse” rather than Formula One.

With Antonelli leading Russell by 84 points in the world championship as they go into this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, the Italian’s first title is within his reach. The 20-year-old has driven superbly in only his second season in F1 but Russell has struggled with poor fortune and reliability issues that have stymied his championship challenge.

• New track for Spanish GP frustrated drivers and fans

• McLaren’s Stella: ‘It’s impossible to attempt overtaking’

Discussions are already under way to change the layout of Formula One’s newest circuit after driver condemnation of the Madring during its inaugural grand prix. The race in Madrid was won by Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, but it was notable for being a procession with overtakes failing to reach double digits over 57 laps. Drivers were left frustrated and disappointed at an opportunity that had been lost, resulting in a chorus of criticism.

“I don’t know how someone looks at this design and goes ‘mint’,” said the defending world champion, Lando Norris, who finished third. “There’s a lot of opportunity. They can make it into a track that’s good for racing and I’m excited to come back here next year if they can make these changes.

• Mercedes team principal: ‘It could become tighter’

• Title leader Antonelli will take grid penalties in Monza

McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton are genuine contenders for the Formula One world championship, according to the Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, who watched Norris take a decisive win at the Dutch Grand Prix.

With Mercedes’s early-season dominance looking to have been all but erased, Wolff noted that there would be no quick fix for the team who could not develop at the same rate as their rivals because they had opted to use their budget differently.

• Tweaks to rules address energy management issues

• ‘Safety and fairness remain the FIA’s highest priorities’

The FIA has confirmed rule changes for the current Formula One season as the sport reacts to driver dissatisfaction and safety concerns with the new regulations. The adapted rules address the energy management issues that have proved controversial across the opening three meetings this year.

Technical and sporting considerations had been discussed twice since the last round in Japan and on Monday senior representatives, including the FIA, team principals and their chief executives, the power unit manufacturers and F1’s chief executive, Stefano Domenicali, formally agreed the changes. They remain subject to ratification by the world motorsport council, a formality expected to be concluded before the next round in Miami on 3 May.

• No team orders for championship-leading Mercedes pair

• Wolff says approach could change in latter stages of season

Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, leaders of the Formula One world championship in a dominant Mercedes car, are “absolutely off the leash” to race one another, their team principal, Toto Wolff, has said.

Antonelli won the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, the 19-year-old’s second victory on the trot and with Russell managing only fourth, the Italian now leads his teammate by nine points.