Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff hopes to help rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli bounce back after a few disappointing Grand Prix weekends. The young Italian failed to finish in both Austria and Great Britain, after securing his first podium finish in Montreal. Wolff reveals his strategy to get Antonelli back on track before the summer break.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli became the third-youngest driver – after Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll – and the third teenager to reach the podium with his third-place finish in Canada. However, after the great success in Montreal, the Italian rookie had a tough time in the subsequent Grands Prix in Austria and Great Britain, failing to finish both races. Antonelli collided with Verstappen in the opening round at the Red Bull Ring, ending the race prematurely for both drivers. In Great Britain, Antonelli was the victim of Isack Hadjar, who couldn’t avoid the Mercedes driver due to the persistent heavy rain.
Wolff Doesn’t Blame Antonelli
“It’s been a tough period since Montreal. Two races that were really subpar and everyone in the team feels it,” says Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff about the past Grand Prix weekends. “And also for Kimi. I think we as a team need to go back to basics. He’s a great driver. We didn’t hire him for nothing. And as a team, we know what we can achieve. We just need to get it right, reset and move on from there. We have two more races to go and we’re trying to bounce back (before the summer break).”
The Austrian team boss doesn’t blame the young Italian for his two disappointing races, citing his ‘lack of experience’. Antonelli took over from Lewis Hamilton, who moved to Ferrari, at Mercedes this year. “It’s just important now to keep Kimi in a good frame of mind and not let him suffer too much or blame himself,” Wolff reveals the further plan for the rookie. “I don’t know if he’s trying too hard. I think he just wants to do well. And it’s clear that a lot of information is coming at him.”
