Toto Wolff makes feelings clear on Kimi Antonelli after decision on replacing driver
Toto Wolff made an important driver line-up decision in Zandvoort.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has made it clear that he supports Kimi Antonelli’s aggressive overtaking approach, despite the teenager taking Charles Leclerc out during the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday. After the race in Zandvoort, Wolff made it clear that he has no plans to replace Antonelli, despite a challenging run of races that has produced just two top-10 finishes in the past nine Grand Prix weekends.
The Italian teenager will be afforded a second season with the Silver Arrows, continuing with George Russell as his team-mate. The incident with Leclerc occurred on lap 53 after Mercedes pulled Antonelli into the pit lane to attempt an undercut on the Ferrari racer. When the Monegasque racer emerged from the blend line on cold tyres, the teenager was right behind him on warmed-up Pirelli rubber, setting up a wheel-to-wheel fight into the banked Turn Three.
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Unfortunately for Leclerc, Antonelli was too ambitious with his lunge to the inside. As the cars rounded the turn, the No.12 Mercedes machine washed up the track and tagged the Ferrari into the wall, ending his race and bringing out a safety car.
"I was thinking in the race, what would it have been if Kimi had overtaken a Ferrari? I think the people in Italy would have been happy," Wolff said after the chequered flag. "Italian fans want an Italian driver that is fighting, that pushes the car to the limit and sometimes over the limit.
“And that's what happened today. Obviously, from the team's perspective, we don't want to take a Ferrari out. Certainly not. And I'm sure that Kimi particularly doesn't want to take a Ferrari out.
For the latest breaking stories and headlines, sign up to our Daily Express F1 newsletter, or join our WhatsApp community here.
“But it is what it is. It's hard racing. Unfortunate, and I'm sorry for Charles and Ferrari. But we want him to go for the moves, and he should."
He added: "In the racing car, he's a fierce competitor, and he has been since karting. If the visor goes down, you have a monster, and that's what we want."
Wolff also made it clear that the mistakes Antonelli has made in his rookie year were expected. "We made it clear when we gave him the opportunity that we would give him a year of learning, and then there would be moments where we'd tear our hair out, and there would be other moments of brilliance,” he declared. “And I think this weekend pretty much sums that up.”
While Antonelli has time to learn and mature on the track, he can’t afford too many more slip-ups. With Wolff set to push hard for Max Verstappen’s signature once again in 2026 and team-mate Russell showing consistent pace, the pressure will be on to stake a claim for his long-term F1 future next season.