"I Couldn’t Even Speak": Antonelli on F1 Mercedes Call

Andrea Kimi Antonelli reveals his F1 appointment moment with Toto Wolff and praises the vital partnership between Mercedes and Adidas.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli shared how Toto Wolff informed him of his appointment as a Mercedes F1 driver for 2025. The youngest driver on the grid received the news during a one-on-one meeting with his boss and mentor.

“He called me into his office and asked if I was ready to drive a Formula 1 car,” Kimi recalled. “I couldn’t even speak at that moment.”

While waiting for his big F1 debut, he spent time with his family over the winter: “I had a great time with my family, which is very important to me because I won’t see them much once the season begins.”

“My father will attend all the races, but my mother, sister, aunt, and grandmother won’t be able to. That’s why I enjoyed relaxing at home with them and doing fun activities together.”

However, the new Mercedes F1 driver worked hard to prepare over the winter: “I did some training camps, including one in Lanzarote. It was really cool, a very nice place.”

“It was my first time there, and the center I stayed at had everything I needed; there were so many activities to do. The weather was great, and at the same time, there were places to unwind in the evenings. But we trained very hard.”

Antonelli was impressed by Adidas’ facilities and the initial impact of the partnership with Mercedes: “I visited their headquarters, which is truly amazing. You can do everything there. I’d love to go back with the team because there’s so much to see. We tried some of the new products and clothing.”

“They gave me a padel racket, which is way too advanced for my skills! There are so many cool things. Tennis shoes, cycling shoes, and a jersey with my name on it. I was super excited when I saw it for the first time and wore it every time I cycled.”

The Italian is pleased to be working with a championship-winning team, alongside George Russell and Valtteri Bottas: “I’ll try to make the most of this. I have complete trust in the team. This opportunity to compete doesn’t come every day. I feel very privileged.”

“I’m very happy to be with George. He’s already shown what he can do, and I have a lot to learn from him. Then there’s Valtteri and his experience. I’m really eager to learn from both of them. They can both push me to improve further.”

Finally, Antonelli thanks Wolff for supporting him over many years, dating back to his early karting days: “I’ve known Toto since 2018, and we have a very good relationship. He has always tried to teach and guide me in the right direction.”