Mercedes F1 rookie Kimi Antonelli embarks on a challenging debut season as Toto Wolff balances highs, lows, and tempered expectations.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes F1 team principal, expects some complications and challenging moments, even admitting there will be times of “tearing his hair out” during Kimi Antonelli’s debut season with the team.
Mercedes F1 has taken an unusual gamble in its history by placing its trust in a young driver with no prior F1 experience—a scenario not seen since the German brand’s return as a constructor team in 2010. Antonelli will even become the first rookie to race for Mercedes in F1 since Karl Kling at the 1954 French Grand Prix.
Antonelli now replaces Lewis Hamilton alongside George Russell for 2025. The Italian has undergone extensive testing with older F1 cars [TPC or Testing of Previous Cars] and participated in Free Practice 1 sessions, but as Wolff notes, nothing can replicate the demands of actual competition.
Wolff expects both highs and lows as Antonelli learns the ropes.
“Obviously, the regulations will remain unchanged in 2025, and you can see the competitive order shifting depending on the circuit. I believe the opportunity exists to fight for wins, and if you can do that, you’re in the fight for the championship.”
“George will establish himself as the lead and senior driver, and Kimi will learn. Sometimes, we’ll be tearing our hair out; other times, we’ll witness moments of brilliance.”
“But it will be a year of managing expectations for Kimi and preparing our driver lineup for 2026.”
Wolff acknowledges, however, that Kimi Antonelli will need to be “quickly up to speed” if Mercedes F1 becomes a more consistent contender for victories with the 2025 W17.
“When you look at the wins from this 2024 season, Red Bull’s year was defined by early-season victories, but you get better data on what to expect for 2025 by looking at the second half of the year with four teams very close.”
“McLaren won six races, Ferrari five, we won four, and Red Bull nine.”
“I would like to be in the fight with the other teams. We would like to have victories on merit, but it’s not a given; it’s absolutely something we need to fight for.”
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Antonelli Faces Crucial Year of Learning at Mercedes Antonelli Faces Crucial Year of Learning at Mercedes
