Kimi Antonelli: Mercedes Trusts in His F1 Future, Heading to Monza?

Toto Wolff: Unwavering Faith in Kimi Antonelli Despite Challenges

The decision to replace Lewis Hamilton with Kimi Antonelli was made by Toto Wolff in just five minutes, according to his own words. Despite the speed of the choice, the Mercedes boss knew that the path for the young driver would be full of ups and downs, a reality that has been evident during the season. A year after the decision was made public at the Italian Grand Prix, doubts have arisen about the incorporation of an 18-year-old driver into a high-performance Formula 1 car. Antonelli has managed to score only one point in the last five races, and the pace he showed at the beginning of the season seems to be more difficult to maintain consistently.

Track errors, such as collisions with Max Verstappen in Austria and Charles Leclerc in the Netherlands, have fueled these questions. However, Wolff maintains his position: Mercedes fully trusts its star of the future and is willing to face the challenges of Antonelli’s debut season.

“When we made it clear last year in Monza that we would give him the opportunity, we were also saying that we would give him a year of learning,” Wolff declared after Antonelli’s complicated weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Toto Wolff

Wolff hopes Antonelli will take advantage of the remaining races of 2025 to improve and demonstrate his potential before the 2026 challenge.

The Pressure and Impact of Monza

Wolff acknowledges that the pressure exerted on Antonelli this year could have been a mistake. The decision to present the young driver in the free practice sessions at Monza and confirm his presence for 2025 within 24 hours transformed a dream into a nightmare. The accident in the Parabolica, which generated a force 52 times greater than gravity, left a mark on Antonelli. James Allison, technical director, suggested that the Monza incident may have affected Antonelli’s confidence in racing, leading him to be more cautious. Despite this, Wolff agrees that the way the team has handled the arrival of its protégé to F1 has not always been the best for optimal results.

“I think we’ve put Kimi under maximum pressure, to be honest,” Wolff said after the Dutch Grand Prix.
Toto Wolff

Wolff added that the team is committed to Antonelli’s long-term development.

Adaptation and Challenges

Despite the Monza accident, Antonelli showed a good performance in the first six races of 2025. The fourth place in Australia and the pole position in the Miami sprint race demonstrated his speed. However, the introduction of a new rear suspension package by Mercedes affected his progress. While Russell adapted, Antonelli struggled, leading him to lose confidence.

“In the first six races of the season, I basically had the same car [without major improvements]”, explained Antonelli in Zandvoort. “So the car was very consistent, and having the same car really helps you build your confidence and understanding of its behavior”.
Kimi Antonelli

Now, with the season’s starting car, he hopes to regain confidence.

Opportunity for the Future

The remaining nine races of 2025 represent an opportunity for Antonelli to regain his pace before the 2026 season, where Mercedes, with the changes in regulations, is expected to return to the top. Wolff considers this period as a learning year, highlighting Antonelli’s youth and his natural talent.

“He’s a kid we’ve thrown into this environment. You just want to hug him and coddle him because he has that talent, the raw speed he carries within,” Wolff expressed.
Toto Wolff

Wolff maintains his confidence in Antonelli, a support that the driver must repay with results on the track.