Toto Wolff has expressed high expectations for Andrea Kimi Antonelli, recently named as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement for next year. The 18-year-old driver will partner George Russell, providing Mercedes with what Wolff calls “two extraordinary drivers.”
Antonelli, who had a heavy crash during his F1 debut practice at the Italian Grand Prix, has been a Mercedes protégé since he was 11 years old. Wolff made the decision to promote Antonelli after just one season in Formula 2, believing that keeping him away from F1 would be a mistake.
“Kimi has been with us since he was 11,” Wolff stated in an exclusive interview with BBC Sport. He added that Antonelli’s karting skills were exceptional, noting that only Max Verstappen’s karting trajectory came close to his. Wolff’s confidence in Antonelli underscores the team’s commitment to nurturing young talent.
Toto Wolff praised Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s impressive trajectory through the formula series, noting his success in his rookie years as particularly special. “Kimi has all he needs—the ability and speed—and he has been with the team for a long time, testing extensively,” Wolff said. While the team expects great things from Antonelli, he emphasized the importance of giving him time to develop.
Antonelli expressed his excitement about the promotion, calling it “an amazing feeling” and the realization of a dream he’s had since childhood. To prepare him for F1, Mercedes has implemented an extensive testing program with former cars, which will continue throughout the year.
Wolff anticipates that Antonelli will make mistakes as he adapts to the complexities of F1. “We will likely see some impressive races, but also some mishaps, like missing front wings after Turn One,” he noted, highlighting the challenging nature of F1 cars and their numerous controls.
He also stated that it would be unrealistic to expect Antonelli to match George Russell’s performance level in his first season, calling Russell “one of the very best drivers in the world.” Wolff acknowledged the young driver’s talent and expressed hope for a strong partnership between Antonelli and Russell.
Lewis Hamilton, who is moving to Ferrari next season, has long supported Antonelli as his replacement. At the Italian Grand Prix, Hamilton referred to the 18-year-old as “one of those super-talent kids” and remarked on his bright future in the sport.
