Antonelli Shines in Baku After Monza Setback

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the Mercedes prodigy, can do little wrong in the eyes of Toto Wolff. However, after the Italian Grand Prix, the team boss expressed criticism for the first time. When Antonelli fell from sixth to ninth place in Monza, Wolff described the performance as ‘subpar’. Yet, the fourth-place finish in Baku made up for a lot – the Austrian praised his protégé for the way he bounced back.

Kimi Antonelli started from the fourth position in Azerbaijan, ahead of teammate George Russell. The latter overtook the young Italian, but Antonelli managed to outmaneuver Liam Lawson with the help of DRS, finishing in P4. It was his best result since his podium finish in Canada. Moreover, he finished just 2.5 seconds behind Carlos Sainz. This was reason enough for Toto Wolff to retract his critical words and sing praises once again.

‘This was very important’

“He (Antonelli) bounced back excellently after Monza,” Wolff told the media in Baku. “He had such a hard time during the European races, and to claim a good fourth place here is something to build on. He needs to ensure he has more good weekends until the end of the year.” Regarding the criticism Wolff previously directed at Antonelli, the team boss is honest: “We always talk very openly with each other; there is no holding back.”

“In Monza, he simply did not meet his own expectations,” Wolff added. “It was not what he expected or wanted. Perhaps something was missing that prevented him from delivering the ultimate performance and securing a podium finish. But he has strengthened his position, and I think it was very important for him to achieve such a result.”