Daily News 19

Tag: Toto Wolff

  • Why Toto Wolff Already Knew Kimi Antonelli “Would Walk on Water” at F1 Italian GP

    Why Toto Wolff Already Knew Kimi Antonelli “Would Walk on Water” at F1 Italian GP

    Just as Pierre Gasly delivered AlphaTauri a shock victory at Monza six years ago, 6 September 2026 became another historic date at the Temple of Speed. Home favorite Kimi Antonelli ignited the Italian tifosi with a stunning comeback drive, turning a weekend that began with tears after Charles Leclerc’s heavy Parabolica crash into pure euphoria.

    From 19th on the Grid to Victory Lane

    Antonelli’s triumph appeared impossible on paper. A power-unit change relegated him to 19th on the starting grid, a strategic move designed to remove pressure rather than chase glory. Yet the championship leader had already carved his way up to 12th by the time a red flag neutralized the race. After the restart, he sliced through the field with surgical precision, producing what he later described as the best Formula 1 victory of his young career.

    Wolff’s Premonition: “He’s Going to Walk on Water Here”

    Fernando Alonso’s podium prediction for Antonelli seemed optimistic, but Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff sensed something extraordinary brewing. He revealed the conviction he felt even before lights out:

    “I thought one of our two drivers was going to win. Either George, because he was on pole [Russell started second behind Gasly in the race], or Kimi, because he’s going to walk on water here in Monza. And I felt that yesterday also.”

    Wolff explained that the feeling crystallized after qualifying, rooted in the driver’s demeanor and a conversation with Antonelli’s father:

    “It’s been a while that I’ve seen driver’s energy levels, attitude, mindset, or behavioural patterns, and I knew that that was his mission today, to win the race.
    “I chatted with his father yesterday and the father also saw that coming.
    “These are those moments where you can see how a weekend is panning out through the sessions, feeling that a special moment could come. But it’s still a mechanical sport, so it can change quickly.”

    A Victory for the History Books

    Only John Watson’s 1983 Long Beach win from 22nd on the grid surpasses Antonelli’s climb from 19th. Asked where this ranks among his most memorable F1 victories, Wolff answered with characteristic pragmatism:

    “This sounds very unromantic now, but I forget about wins,” he said. “There’s a few that I remember. Maybe my first one, but it isn’t as glamorous as you would like. It’s Pastor Maldonado in Barcelona. Or Nico Rosberg with Mercedes-Benz, the first one in Monaco. And Lewis Hamilton winning in Singapore.
    “So there’s a few of these big ones. And certainly this is one that I will remember.”

    Full Circle: From FP1 Crash to “Biggest Glory”

    Beyond the on-track heroics, Wolff highlighted the profound narrative arc. Two years earlier, Antonelli endured a heavy crash during his Formula 1 practice debut at Monza in FP1 — a moment Wolff called “probably the toughest moment in his career for himself and his family.”

    “It’s how the circle closed,” he said. “Two years ago in FP1, it was probably the toughest moment in his career for himself and his family. A moment where everyone doubted, including himself.
    “And then two years later, it’s the biggest glory, the biggest moment of his career that’s probably going to be one of his biggest moments overall in the future.
    “Even if he wins another 200 grand prix, that one will always remain special. And I think that’s the perspective under which I want to see it.”

    Antonelli’s Monza masterclass stands as a testament to resilience, timing, and the unique magic of the Italian Grand Prix — a victory that transcends statistics and etches itself into Formula 1 folklore.

  • Toto Wolff Uneasy After Mercedes Drivers Clash at Monza: “That could have ended in disaster”

    Toto Wolff Uneasy After Mercedes Drivers Clash at Monza: “That could have ended in disaster”

    Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff admitted the on-track battle between Kimi Antonelli and George Russell at the Italian Grand Prix “could have ended in disaster” and left the team looking “like idiots” after the pair traded the lead repeatedly at Monza.

    Antonelli’s Charge from 19th Sets Up Teammate Duel

    Starting 19th on the grid due to a power-unit penalty, Antonelli carved through the field to reach second place within 16 laps. A 12-lap wheel-to-wheel fight with Russell followed, with the Silver Arrows swapping the race lead several times before a virtual safety car (VSC) period allowed Antonelli to pit. He rejoined 14 seconds behind his teammate but, on fresher tyres, closed the gap rapidly and launched a decisive attack with six laps remaining.

    Late-Race Scare at Turn 2

    The climax arrived on lap 49 when Russell ran wide at Turn 2 while defending, and Antonelli slid into the gravel trap on the marbles. Both cars recovered to secure a Mercedes 1-2 — Antonelli leading Russell by four seconds, with Max Verstappen third, 15 seconds adrift — but the moment left Wolff visibly tense.

    Wolff: “We Would Have Looked Like Idiots”

    Speaking after the race, Wolff revealed he had his finger on the radio button to intervene but held back.

    “We’re trying to anticipate possible scenarios, and the two of them have been great in understanding and embracing the team component – which is difficult for a race driver that tries to win a grand prix, especially for Kimi in Monza, especially for George, who needs to keep scoring points in order to stay in the Toto Wolff uneasy as Mercedes drivers fought at Monza: “That could have ended in disaster” race,” the Austrian pondered. “But they’ve always been clean.”

    “At times, we were thinking, ‘It’s clean, but it’s a bit close’. And I had a finger on the button to Marcus, to Bono, to Kimi, to George, but I didn’t push it.”

    “The last incident was unfortunate. George tried to not cut the corner, and Kimi then obviously on the marbles, going straight, and that could have ended up in a disaster when it comes to the race result. We would have looked like idiots.”

    “We will be talking about that situation as another building block of how we want to race in the future. But I think it was worth to show the racing spirit in the team and have them go at each other.”

    Russell Ruues Lost Duel After VSC Pitstop

    Russell acknowledged parallels to the drawn-out Mercedes fight at the Canadian Grand Prix but expressed frustration that the VSC timing ended their extended battle.

    “I would have loved to have continued on the same strategy because I felt in a good position in that battle,” he said. “I sort of knew exactly what I needed to do with the energy management to defend, but also when to attack and make those moves, and I put a lot of preparation into this race in that regard.

    “Then, of course, when the VSC came out, it kind of came out at that perfect point for the drivers to pull the trigger and take the pitstop. And, yeah, here we are.”

    Championship Implications

    With his fifth consecutive winless weekend, Russell now trails Antonelli by 66 points in the drivers’ standings, underscoring the shifting dynamic within the Mercedes garage as the Italian rookie announces himself as a genuine title contender.

  • Toto Wolff Says Kimi Antonelli’s 2026 F1 Progress Is One of the Biggest Surprises of His Career

    Toto Wolff Says Kimi Antonelli’s 2026 F1 Progress Is One of the Biggest Surprises of His Career

    When Toto Wolff met with the Dutch press at Zandvoort a year ago, Kimi Antonelli was enduring the difficult stretch that defined much of his European Formula 1 rookie season. The young Italian had shown flashes of brilliance in Miami and Canada, but those performances were followed by several challenging race weekends.

    At the time, Wolff described Antonelli’s first season in straightforward terms:

    “Sometimes there are brilliant moments that leave our mouths open, and sometimes we are pulling our hair out. But that is all in line with expectations.”

    Many paddock observers expected Antonelli’s 2026 campaign to follow a similar pattern. Instead, the Mercedes driver has combined his natural speed with a major improvement in consistency.

    Antonelli has finished on the podium at every grand prix so far except Barcelona and Silverstone. He also leads the Formula 1 championship by 59 points over Mercedes team-mate George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.

    Asked by Motorsport.com whether Antonelli’s progress ranked among the biggest surprises of his long career, Wolff gave a clear answer.

    “Definitely,” he said.

    However, Wolff said Hamilton and Max Verstappen had already warned him last year that Antonelli possessed the potential to make such a breakthrough.

    “I think the great ones, they know,” Wolff explained. “You say it needs one to know one. And I think that when you listen to Lewis or to Max last year, they already said that he has the potential.
    “And that’s what we felt in the team too, looking at his previous records in karting and the junior formulas.
    “Nevertheless, to come out after the winter and just nailing it pretty much every single race is one of the big surprises in my professional racing career.”

    From ‘parachuted into F1’ to no longer being a ‘deer in the headlights’

    Wolff believes Antonelli’s rapid development is the result of more than technical factors. Although the 2026 car may suit his driving style better than the previous ground-effect machinery, Wolff also pointed to the driver’s personal development and ability to process information.

    “When I analyse it and ask myself what are the reasons that he had such a good reputation in the junior formulas and karting, I think it’s his processing power.
    “I think he just needed the winter to process it. Why was it good? Why was it bad? What do I need to do?”

    Wolff also credited the greater stability within Mercedes. Antonelli entered the new season in a familiar environment, with less uncertainty surrounding the travel, accommodation, team procedures and circuits.

    “And then to come into an environment that he already knew. He knew that flying to Melbourne would look that way. He knew the hotel. He knew the set-up. He comes to the track, and everything is as last year.
    “And that means that it just comes down to driving and preparation, rather than being a deer in front of the headlights, like in 2025, thinking what’s happening? But yeah, it’s still one of the very nice surprises.”

    The same factors help explain Antonelli’s inconsistent 2025 rookie season, Wolff said. The combination of established technical regulations, limited experience and intense external pressure created a difficult introduction to Formula 1.

    “What happened to Kimi last year is just what we predicted,” Wolff added.
    “You’re being parachuted into Formula 1. He was 18 under a set of regulations that was very mature. Most of the drivers were racing those cars for a long time and Kimi didn’t know some of the circuits.
    “And then there was this avalanche of media requests and pressure. Suddenly everyone who was part of your journey felt they needed to be with you or close to you. The demands were enormous.”

    Kimi Antonelli’s 2025 struggles were “what we predicted”, the Mercedes boss said.

    The 54-year-old Austrian said he faced widespread criticism for placing Antonelli in a Mercedes seat so early in his career. Wolff compared the decision with Helmut Marko’s choice to give Max Verstappen an early Formula 1 opportunity at Red Bull, saying both men had seen enough talent to justify taking the risk.

    “Everyone and their dog said to me that it was too early, that I shouldn’t have put him into Mercedes and that I should have done a smaller team.
    “Spa was probably one of the worst moments, but for me, I stood strong with him because I felt that it was exactly the year we needed,” Wolff said.
    “We’re only making the assessment after the second year. And the way he’s come out of the blocks this year is a surprise to everyone, and yes, to me as well.”

    Beyond Antonelli’s speed and performance on track, Wolff said the driver’s enthusiasm is now having a positive effect across the Mercedes team.

    “He is authentic, very open-minded, not political at all. He completely lacks that negative kind of thing. For him, it’s just all about performance on the track.
    “And he’s made all the English mechanics hug each other now, which is also new for us!”

  • Kimi Antonelli Reveals “different mindset” Ahead of F1 Italian Grand Prix Return

    Kimi Antonelli Reveals “different mindset” Ahead of F1 Italian Grand Prix Return

    Kimi Antonelli heads into this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix with a 59-point lead in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship and a very different outlook from his difficult home-race debut at Monza in 2025.

    Antonelli endured a troubled weekend last year. The Mercedes driver received a five-second penalty after colliding with Williams driver Alex Albon and was shown a black-and-white flag for exceeding track limits. He ultimately scored two points with a ninth-place finish.

    Now 20, Antonelli returns to Monza as the championship leader and a six-time grand prix winner this season. Speaking to F1.com before his home race, the Italian said he would approach the weekend with a “different attitude”.

    “I’m very excited. I think it’s going to be a great atmosphere and it’s going to be a lot different compared to last year,” he said. “I’m definitely going in with a different attitude, different mindset, and definitely I feel like I’m going to be able to enjoy the weekend a lot more. I’m really looking forward to be back.”

    Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes. Photo by: Eric Le Galliot

    Antonelli set for minimum 10-place grid penalty at Monza

    Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed during the Dutch Grand Prix weekend that Antonelli would take a grid penalty at his home race because of a planned power unit change.

    The final penalty has not yet been confirmed. Its severity will depend on how many new power unit components Mercedes installs in Antonelli’s car, but it will be at least 10 places.

    “With Kimi, we’re taking the full thing. Our calculations say that that’s the best track to take it,” Wolff explained.

    “Obviously, algorithms don’t take their nationality into consideration. We’re here to fight for a championship and not get the most PR. So yeah, that’s what we’re going to do.”

    The Italian Grand Prix will be held at Monza from 4-6 September.

  • “How can you allow this?” Toto Wolff Reveals Niki Lauda Story Behind Lewis Hamilton’s Iconic F1 Pole

    “How can you allow this?” Toto Wolff Reveals Niki Lauda Story Behind Lewis Hamilton’s Iconic F1 Pole

    When Toto Wolff met a select group of Dutch journalists for his annual media session at Zandvoort, one topic was how Formula 1 teams can get the best performance from their drivers—and how much freedom a team principal should give a star competitor.

    Max Verstappen is the most prominent current example. Red Bull allows him considerable freedom away from Formula 1, including involvement with his own racing team and endurance events such as the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

    The Dutchman competes in those events with a Mercedes-AMG GT3, raising the question of whether another F1 team, including Mercedes, would offer a driver like Verstappen the same latitude.

    Wolff said the answer depends on understanding each driver as an individual and identifying the conditions that allow them to perform at their best.

    “I think every team is different, but I think what I am trying to do is to identify what it is that makes the driver fast within our structure,” Wolff said.

    “What kind of framework do we need to provide to extract the best performance of the driver, and part of that is obviously the well-being. And that is something that I am very keen on as well.

    “I have never put drivers in a box and have never said this is how you need to be.”

    Max Verstappen, Mercedes-AMG GT3. Photo by: Miguel Reis / NurPhoto via Getty Images

    “Toto, how on earth can you allow this?”

    In Verstappen’s case, that freedom includes competing in other racing series. Wolff recalled an earlier example from his time as an F1 team principal: Lewis Hamilton’s passion for fashion, particularly around the 2018 Singapore Grand Prix.

    “I remember Lewis Hamilton with his fashion collection back in the day and there was this Singapore race. I remember it was 2018 or 2019, when he launched his Tommy Hilfiger collection,” Wolff recounted.

    “He had a fashion show in Shanghai where he FaceTimed us. He was grateful that Mercedes changed from Boss to Hilfiger to allow him to have his own collection. He showed everything and said, look at this, this is my catwalk, this is my collection. I can’t believe it!”

    The fashion show in Shanghai took place on 4 September, but Hamilton still had another commitment before travelling to Singapore: New York Fashion Week, where he was scheduled to present his collection in the United States.

    “And then he flew from Shanghai to LA or New York, and did it there,” Wolff recalls. “Niki Lauda said to me back in the day, I cannot comprehend why you allow this. We are racing in Singapore next weekend, so how is this even possible?”

    The criticism grew when Hamilton’s journey to Singapore was delayed, leaving him due to arrive late for the first engineering meeting.

    Lewis Hamilton arrived late in Singapore after the fashion shows
    Hamilton arrived late in Singapore after the fashion shows, but Wolff defended his driver against criticism. Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

    “Lewis said that he needed to do another stopover in London or so, I don’t even remember. He calls me on Wednesday and says that it will be touch and go, arriving on Thursday for the first engineering meeting.

    “I replied, do me a favour, because I’m already getting lots of shit here for you doing a 360 around the world in funky clothes!

    “But then he called me again and said, I’m late, the flight has been delayed. So Niki says to me, I really can’t believe how you can allow that.”

    “Lewis, please don’t let me down this weekend”

    Hamilton’s performance in Singapore demonstrated both Wolff’s willingness to protect his drivers and the way Hamilton repaid that trust on the track.

    “When he arrived, I said, ‘Lewis, do me a favour. I’ll take it from you here, I’ll take all the criticism from everyone, but just don’t let me down this weekend.’

    “Understood, he said, and this is when he had this unbelievable pole position. There was that sensational lap and then he won the race, disappearing in the distance.

    Lewis Hamilton repaid Toto Wolff's trust in Singapore
    Hamilton repaid Wolff’s trust in Singapore and went on to clinch his fifth world title just over a month later. Photo by: Jerry Andre / Motorsport Images

    “After the race he came back to me and said, that was a good deal, no?”

    Wolff said Lauda eventually accepted Hamilton’s activities away from the circuit, provided they did not affect his performance during a race weekend.

    “Niki said to me afterwards, ‘I’m never going to criticise it anymore, even if he flies to the moon before a race!’”

    Hamilton took pole position in Singapore by more than three-tenths of a second over Verstappen and six-tenths over title rival Sebastian Vettel. The Mercedes driver won the race by almost nine seconds from Verstappen and secured his fifth world championship just over a month later in Mexico.

  • FIA Reveals Latest ADUO Engine Ranking as Red Bull Remains Formula 1 Benchmark

    FIA Reveals Latest ADUO Engine Ranking as Red Bull Remains Formula 1 Benchmark

    The FIA has published the latest Additional Upgrades and Opportunities (ADUO) evaluation for Formula 1 power units, with the Red Bull-Ford internal combustion engine still ranked as the benchmark.

    The analysis covers every race from the season-opening Australian Grand Prix through the Hungarian Grand Prix. According to the FIA’s findings, Red Bull-Ford currently has the most powerful internal combustion engine in F1.

    Mercedes is estimated to be between 2% and 4% behind Red Bull-Ford on power. Audi, Ferrari and Honda are more than 4% adrift. Honda’s updated power unit, introduced at the Dutch Grand Prix, was not included in the latest assessment.

    No additional power unit homologations awarded

    Following the first quarter of the season, Mercedes was granted one additional homologation for each of 2026 and 2027. Audi, Ferrari and Honda were each awarded two additional homologations for both years. The allowances include extra cost-cap capacity and additional dyno testing, although no official announcement had been made at the time.

    While the FIA confirmed the latest ADUO ranking, it did not award any further homologations in this evaluation period.

    Mercedes expected to lead F1 power unit rankings

    Mercedes had widely been considered to have the strongest power unit in Formula 1, rather than Red Bull-Ford. The ADUO system has faced criticism because it evaluates only the internal combustion engine, which is not the sole performance differentiator in F1’s current hybrid power units.

    Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has also acknowledged the strength of the team’s power unit, although his comments were not made specifically in reference to the ADUO system.

    “The FIA has undertaken thorough and exhaustive analysis as part of our ADUO review process,” said Nikolas Tombazis, FIA director of single-seater. “With the release of the findings of period two, we are confident that, based on the quality of the data, its analysis is incredibly robust, giving us a high level of confidence in our findings. We also have to respect the confidentiality and intellectual property of the teams and their power unit manufacturers in disseminating any details from the findings.

    “This is the first year of ADUO so naturally there are areas which we may evolve over time, in discussion with all the PU manufacturers.”

    Red Bull questions ADUO opportunities

    Red Bull has been particularly frustrated by the limited opportunities provided by the current ranking system. The team requested a review of the results issued after the Canadian Grand Prix, but that appeal was unsuccessful.

    Speaking after the Belgian Grand Prix, Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies said:

    “Toto is right. I also think that they have the most powerful power unit,” team principal Laurent Mekies said following the Belgian GP. “And certainly they had a sizeable advantage on the straight this weekend again.

    “But it’s not the first weekend. They have an advantage on the straight most weekends. And this weekend a bit more with the track sensitivity.

    “As you said, the second period closing in Budapest in a week’s time. We’ll see what’s happening.”

    With Red Bull-Ford still at the top of the ADUO rankings, the system is expected to become a major topic of debate during the Italian Grand Prix weekend.

  • Toto Wolff Explains Decision Behind Kimi Antonelli’s Monza Engine Penalty

    Toto Wolff Explains Decision Behind Kimi Antonelli’s Monza Engine Penalty

    During the race weekend at Zandvoort, Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff confirmed that Kimi Antonelli is set to serve a grid penalty at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix in Monza. The penalty is the result of a planned power unit change.

    While the legendary Monza circuit is Antonelli’s home event, the Mercedes team believes that taking the tactical hit now is the most logical choice. Making the change in Italy helps the team avoid potential technical failures later in the season, similar to the mechanical issue that forced Antonelli to retire early in Barcelona.

    Regarding the strategic decision, Wolff explained, “With Kimi, we’re taking the full thing. Our calculations say that that’s the best track to take it,” before adding, “Obviously, algorithms don’t take their nationality into consideration. We’re here to fight for a championship and not get the most PR. So yeah, that’s what we’re going to do.”

    Reliability Concerns and Potential Penalty for George Russell

    Monza’s famous “Temple of Speed” features long straights that heavily favor the Mercedes power unit. Additionally, the circuit offers numerous overtaking opportunities, making it an ideal venue to minimize the impact of a grid drop. Under current sporting regulations, drivers face grid penalties at the first event where any additional power unit components beyond their seasonal allocation are introduced. Mercedes has faced multiple reliability concerns this season, which also affected Antonelli’s teammate, George Russell, during the race weekends in Canada and Belgium.

    The team is currently evaluating whether Russell will also need to take a strategic engine penalty. “With George, the discussions are ongoing, if we were to take it,” Wolff continued.

    Monza: A Track Ripe for Comebacks

    Historically, Monza has been a circuit where drivers can successfully fight their way forward, often yielding highly unpredictable results. In 2020, Pierre Gasly claimed a shocking victory after starting 10th on the grid. The following year, Daniel Ricciardo led McLaren to a spectacular win despite driving what was only the fourth-quickest car on the grid at the time.

    Grid penalties have not prevented strong finishes at the track in more recent years either. Last season, Isack Hadjar overcame a pit lane start to secure a P10 finish for Racing Bulls after taking on new power unit components. In 2022, Max Verstappen won the Grand Prix from a five-place grid penalty, while Lewis Hamilton sliced through the field from the very back to finish fifth.

    These past performances illustrate why Mercedes selected Monza for the tactical shift, despite it being Antonelli’s home race. For fans, Antonelli’s recovery drive could provide a thrilling spectacle as the young driver fights his way through the field.

    Antonelli heads into the Italian Grand Prix weekend in a commanding position, having further extended his championship lead with a second-place finish at Zandvoort. After 12 rounds, he sits 59 points clear of both his teammate and Hamilton.

  • Andrea Stella Challenges Mercedes’ Claim It Can’t Afford F1 Upgrades: “I actually don’t believe you”

    Andrea Stella Challenges Mercedes’ Claim It Can’t Afford F1 Upgrades: “I actually don’t believe you”

    McLaren Formula 1 team principal Andrea Stella has dismissed Toto Wolff’s claim that Mercedes lacks the budget to accelerate its car development programme.

    Ferrari and McLaren have made major gains with their 2026 cars in recent weeks. Both teams have taken two victories, increasing the pressure on Mercedes after its earlier dominance.

    Mercedes delays major F1 upgrade package

    Mercedes has introduced only a limited number of aerodynamic upgrades compared with its rivals. The team is instead planning to bring a larger package to the October Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

    The delay could leave Mercedes vulnerable during the next three September races in Italy, Spain and Azerbaijan. Asked by Motosport.com after the Dutch Grand Prix whether the development strategy was becoming more difficult to justify amid McLaren’s rapid progress, Wolff said Mercedes was constrained by how its Brackley operation had allocated its $215m cost-cap allowance.

    “We haven’t got the money to put developments on the car. I said before that we are trying to evenly split that through the season based on our calculations of when we can bring the biggest updates and optimising the championship points. But we just can’t do what we can’t do,” the Austrian said.

    “You will see towards the end of the season whether they are going to be able to deploy as much stuff onto the car as they do now.

    “Someone might have a different strategy in spending more at the beginning and the middle of the year than towards the end.”

    When asked about Wolff’s comments, McLaren chief Stella expressed strong doubts about Mercedes’ financial explanation.

    “I would like to believe you, but I actually don’t believe you.”

    Andrea Stella cast doubt on Mercedes’ claims

    Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images

    McLaren points to additional 2026 cost-cap allowance

    Stella’s scepticism relates partly to changes in the 2027 power-unit regulations. The rules will move Formula 1 towards a 57-43 split between combustion power and electrical energy, while also affecting specific areas of car design.

    Teams have been granted an additional $3m cost-cap allowance that can be used in their 2026 or 2027 reporting to prepare for those changes. Stella said Mercedes could use that allowance to manufacture upgraded car components if it chose to do so.

    “All teams will have an allowance in their reporting for the cost cap,” Stella said. “And if I’m not wrong, it’s like three million that you can use in the 2026 reporting for cost cap calculations. And I’m sure that Mercedes, having seen that their rivals are kind of elevating the game, I’m sure they will now cash in on their development that surely is happening in the ground.

    “I’m sure the car in the wind tunnel is quite a bit faster than the car they have on track and they will want to now convert some of this potential into upgrades that make it to the real car. So, I’m just pretty sure that they will have upgrades. Obviously, it would be good if not, but I don’t even want to think about it…”

  • Formula 1: Kimi Antonelli, the Boy ‘Born in a Garage’ and Made on the Track

    Formula 1: Kimi Antonelli, the Boy ‘Born in a Garage’ and Made on the Track

    Once Formula 1 departed Europe last autumn, a distinct shift occurred within the Mercedes camp. “Suddenly, we felt like we were making really good progress,” says Andrew Shovlin. “There were signs towards the end of the year. I’m not saying any of us thought we’d see what we’ve seen so far this year, but that we had a decent F1 driver.”

    Antonelli’s Dominant Rookie Campaign

    Kimi Antonelli has proven to be far more than “decent.” The Italian rookie has taken the 2025 season by storm, establishing a consistent supremacy over teammate George Russell. Piloting the class-leading machinery, Antonelli has secured six pole positions and six victories across the opening 11 rounds. He enters the second half of the championship, commencing with this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, holding a commanding 50-point lead and appearing well on course for a maiden world title. Reliability issues remain the only factor preventing an even larger championship margin.

    Mercedes Leadership Stunned by Pace of Adaptation

    The scale of this turnaround has caught the paddock off guard. “We were all surprised,” admits Team Principal Toto Wolff. “My thoughts were always that he needed to make the experience of knowing all the tracks, the pressure of performing on such a high level under the spotlight of the media, the constant public feedback, whether you’re doing well or not, the situations everyone wanted to be close to him.”

    Wolff notes the absence of a single bottleneck in the young driver’s development. “There wasn’t one single defining factor where I would have said that made it difficult for him, but this year, he knew exactly what to expect. What was really nice to see is that the self-confidence, without feeling any entitlement, has shone.”

    Mental Fortitude Forged in Junior Categories

    Antonelli’s father, Marco, attributes the performance to a “very strong” mentality forged in the junior ranks. “In F4 and Freca, he started with not good results, and he was able to remake everything and, at the end, work hard and win the championship,” he says. “We talk about F1. I don’t know what the spark is in his brain, but Kimi in the past did the same.”

    Peers Validate Rookie Trajectory

    Reigning champion Max Verstappen echoes the sentiment that the current form follows a natural progression. “For me, there was never any doubt that he would make the jump the year after and already be a lot more consistently competitive,” Verstappen says. “It’s normal in the progression of a driver. In your rookie season, it can be quite tough, but at the moment, of course, he’s doing an amazing job.”

    Family Support and Character Strengths

    Antonelli describes his father as his “rock,” a sentiment Wolff expands upon, praising the driver’s “typical Italian family.” “They are caring, they are loving,” Wolff says. “Kimi’s character, he’s gentle, he has empathy, he has charisma, he has the right amount of intelligence for being a racing driver.”