Nine-year-old Jack Wolff clinches first karting championship in Italy

Nine-year-old Jack Wolff, son of Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff, claimed his first karting championship last weekend at Italy's Leopard Circuit Viterbo, sealing the IAME Series Italy Racing Formula title in the X30 U10 category with KR Motorsport.

Leading the standings into the sixth and final round, Jack put the championship beyond doubt by finishing on the top step of the podium — a fitting end to a season that saw him emerge as a regular frontrunner.

Why it matters:

With the most recognisable surname in the F1 paddock, Jack's early success will inevitably draw attention. While karting titles are a common stepping stone, the Wolff family's racing pedigree — Toto's dominance at Mercedes and Susie's role running F1 Academy — makes his progress worth watching.

The details:

• Jack had already claimed his first IAME Series Italy victory in July, and consistent results throughout the campaign left him with a title shot heading into the final weekend.
• "It was good. We had a lot of wins and some bad races but at the end we fought well and we won the championship, so I'm really happy," Jack said.
• Surprised by pace: "From the season I did not know I would win nearly every single round so I was really surprised that I was up there," he admitted.
• Competitive field: The X30 U10 category offered no easy runs. "It's really competitive. There's a lot of good drivers fighting in the championship and we came here on the first step," he insisted.
• He turns 10 next April, still years away from anything resembling F1.

What's next:

For now, Jack is focused on the immediate business of getting a kart around a circuit quickly. He was quick to credit his support system: "I want to thank my whole team, my mum, my dad, my whole family to get me here, to race, and to win the championship."

With one Wolff adding a karting trophy to the family cabinet, Toto might want to start checking whether the Mercedes simulator has a junior mode.