It’s a dream for any young racing enthusiast to steer their wheels on the biggest motorsport stage. The Formula One world is full of such stories, where young drivers came in with passion and changed the entire racing scene. One such story is taking shape in the Mercedes squad. Young, talented racer, dubbed the ‘next Hamilton,’ is all set to replace his idol in the upcoming season.
Kimi Antonelli, the teenage Italian, will live his childhood dream of driving an F1 car in the 2025 season. However, the Mercedes team is in no hurry to make this ascent from F2 to F1. Toto Wolff has recently explained the reason behind cautious steps in introducing Antonelli.
Wolff Cautious Against Rushing Antonelli Into The Intense F1 Wolrd
Toto Wolff has shared that the decision to delay Kimi Antonelli’s move into Formula 1 was motivated by a desire to ensure he is fully prepared rather than rushing him into the role. Mercedes is using Lewis Hamilton’s approach from his rookie season in 2007 as a model for Antonelli. Hamilton’s near-title bid was supported by extensive testing and thorough race weekend preparation, which Mercedes aims to replicate with Antonelli.
Wolff explained that Mercedes plans to continue this comprehensive program with Antonelli, including additional practice sessions and testing. Antonelli will participate in another FP1 session in Mexico and a post-season test in Abu Dhabi. The goal is to accumulate significant driving experience, even if the car used for these sessions isn’t the best.
Wolff praised Antonelli’s raw talent, noting that while some aspects of driving can be refined, innate speed cannot be taught. He emphasized that tempering a driver’s aggressiveness is easier than instilling speed. Wolff mentioned that it is the team’s responsibility to help Antonelli manage his approach, ensuring that each lap is not overly aggressive. Mercedes Technical Director James Allison observed that Antonelli’s performance in practice highlighted the need for improvement in differentiating between free practice and qualifying.
Mercedes Chief’s ‘Flirting’ Remark On The Possibility Of Verstappen Being A Prospect For 2026 And Beyond
In reflecting on his interactions with Max Verstappen’s team, Toto Wolff expressed his appreciation for their straightforward approach. He clarified that he has not engaged in any external negotiations or flirtations, remaining focused on delivering success with the current team setup. Wolff acknowledged that he may have been caught off guard by Lewis Hamilton’s departure but emphasized that no discussions with other drivers have taken place while the team is fully committed to making the current strategy work.
Wolff reinforced that the team’s attention is solely on George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, with no consideration given to plans beyond the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The focus remains firmly on the immediate future, with 2026 not being a topic of discussion at this time.
