Toto Wolff reflects on the inconsistent debut season of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who recently extended his contract with Mercedes until 2026. The young Italian faced immense pressure and sky-high expectations, but according to the team boss, he managed to hold his own.
“We knew it would be a challenging season if we only gave him one year under the current regulations, as the other drivers already have experience with these cars,” Wolff explains. “The tires are also particularly difficult to understand.” As if that wasn’t enough, Antonelli also had to race on circuits that were new to him. On top of that, according to Wolff, was the enormous national pressure: “He was unfamiliar with many circuits, and then there’s also the immense media pressure that comes with being an Italian — this country has been waiting for a world champion for 50, 60 years.”
Lessons for Next Year
Yet, these tough challenges also brought about beautiful moments. “He experienced everything and still achieved good results. For me, the pole position in the sprint race in Miami and the podium in Montreal were the highlights — although there were also some difficult races,” Wolff shares. The team boss acknowledges that the media pressure in Europe weighed heavily on Antonelli. “The pressure from the media was enormous. We learned from that and have since better shielded him.” This approach seems to be bearing fruit: “The last two races went really well, he’s back on track.”
Looking to the future, Wolff is confident. “Next year he starts from a completely different position. He has now seen and experienced everything. I am convinced that it will be a strong season for him.”
