Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff is delighted with the development of Andrea Kimi Antonelli as a driver. The rookie made his Formula 1 debut with Mercedes in 2025, and immediately reached the podium three times in his first year. Although Wolff believes things are ‘moving in the right direction’ for the young Italian, he expects Kimi Antonelli to be at the peak of his performance in Formula 1 by 2030.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli has completed his first season as a Mercedes driver. The young Italian finished with 150 World Championship points in seventh place in the drivers’ championship, with his second place in Brazil being the highlight. The 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli is just at the beginning of his Formula 1 career, something that team boss Toto Wolff also keeps in mind.
“When do we expect him to reach his peak? In three, five years,” the Austrian candidly tells the Beyond The Grid podcast. “And that’s the time we need to give him.” The Italian rookie made his Formula 1 debut with a top team, Mercedes, at the beginning of 2025, after Lewis Hamilton had swapped the Silver Arrows for Ferrari. However, according to Wolff, it will not be until 2030 that the young driver performs at the peak of his abilities.
‘Moving in the right direction’
Wolff then explains what exactly Kimi Antonelli still needs to learn in Formula 1. “I think he knows a lot about this sport because he is involved with it every day. But there is also a human component that you need to develop as a young man, namely dealing with the dynamics and pressure of this environment. However, there is no doubt that he is moving in the right direction.” Kimi Antonelli has a contract with Mercedes until 2026, just like teammate George Russell.
