Toto Wolff believes Kimi Antonelli got the “result that he merits” after…read more
Toto Wolff praised Kimi Antonelli’s impressive performance at the Australian Grand Prix, after the 18-year-old finished fourth on his Formula 1 debut. Antonelli, who took the seat previously held by seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, entered F1 with high expectations. He showed promise in practice sessions, but his debut weekend became more challenging during Qualifying, where he was eliminated in Q1 due to floor damage after hitting a bump. However, during the race, Antonelli demonstrated his potential by recovering from 16th place to finish in fourth.
Wolff acknowledged Antonelli’s potential and resilience under pressure, highlighting that despite his tough qualifying session, the young driver’s race performance was exemplary. “We always knew his potential since he was a kid,” Wolff said. He continued by explaining that Antonelli’s drop-out in qualifying wasn’t his fault, as the floor damage was caused by hitting the wrong bump. In the Grand Prix, Antonelli showcased his skill by steadily gaining positions without making major mistakes. He did have a minor spin but still managed to secure P4, which Wolff believed was a deserved result for the rookie.
Initially, Antonelli was handed a five-second penalty for an unsafe release in the race’s closing stages, which dropped him to fifth. However, Mercedes successfully appealed the penalty, and the decision was overturned, maintaining Antonelli’s fourth-place finish. Wolff also reflected on the overall performance of the team in Australia, noting that the Mercedes cars had a solid weekend. While McLaren and Red Bull remained ahead in terms of pace, Wolff was pleased with his team’s progress, particularly in comparison to Ferrari. Charles Leclerc and Hamilton finished eighth and 10th respectively, with George Russell later commenting that Mercedes appeared to be a step ahead of Ferrari, although acknowledging the strong competition from McLaren and Red Bull.
Looking at the bigger picture, Wolff assessed the weekend’s overall performance and acknowledged that while the result was solid, there was still room for improvement. He mentioned that, in terms of pace, Mercedes’ true position was closer to P4 and P5, rather than further up the order. Wolff expressed concern over McLaren’s strength and their ability to manage tire performance, something Mercedes needs to analyze and improve to compete for race wins and world championships in the future. He concluded by stressing the importance of continued development to ensure they can fight for the top positions in the coming races.
