Wolff Aims to Guide Antonelli Toward Hamilton's F1 Success

Toto Wolff believes Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s F1 debut mirrors Hamilton’s, aiming for a similar trajectory of rapid success.

Toto Wolff believes that a model similar to Lewis Hamilton’s will help Andrea Kimi Antonelli navigate F1.

Antonelli is set to replace Hamilton next season at Mercedes F1, with some notable similarities.

Hamilton was a rookie, as Antonelli will be, when he joined a top F1 team (McLaren in 2007). Back then, team principal Ron Dennis downplayed the pressure on Hamilton, stating, “You can’t expect – and we don’t expect – immediate performances.”

Yet, Hamilton quickly rose to the occasion. Antonelli could follow a similar path. He’s already being dubbed “the next Max Verstappen” in the paddock, another driver who made his F1 debut as a teenager, at just 17 in 2015.

Wolff, however, is set on following Hamilton’s path for his protégé.

“I think the project that inspires me the most is the one that resembles Lewis’s career more than Max’s,” Wolff says.

“Lewis’s growth in the junior categories and his impact in Formula 1 came at a time when testing was far more available than what Kimi can do now.”

“At the time, Ron said Lewis should take it easy to adjust to F1, especially with Fernando Alonso at McLaren.”

“However, that never happened. Lewis was immediately competitive and successful.”

“With the preparation Kimi has now, he can step into our car and be competitive.”

“However, F1 today is a very different beast than it was when Lewis debuted. There are far more dimensions and facets compared to the past.”

“There’s more pressure and social media, so it’s essential to ensure everything evolves in the right direction, keep the right priorities, and avoid unnecessary distractions.”

“The goal is to create a new success story, as we did with Lewis.”