Günther Steiner explains how Kimi Antonelli is Toto Wolff’s answer to missing Max Verstappen. Günther Steiner explains why Kimi Antonelli represents Toto Wolff’s redemption for missing Max Verstappen.

Günther Steiner believes that Toto Wolff will not show favoritism between Kimi Antonelli and George Russell in their battle for the World Championship.

Mercedes, how to manage Antonelli and Russell?

The start of the season has confirmed Mercedes’ expectations. Back at Brackley, they knew they had designed a very strong car for the beginning of the 2026 regulatory cycle, and with three victories in the opening three Grands Prix, Toto Wolff’s team has already built a significant lead in both championship standings. What they likely did not anticipate, however, is the extraordinary level of performance delivered by Kimi Antonelli, who now leads the World Championship following his victories in China and Japan.

From Miami onwards, a new chapter begins—one that revolves around the internal management at Mercedes between Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, who appears to have initially underestimated the challenge posed by his young teammate. It is a “good problem” for Toto Wolff, who has been extremely effective in placing his trust in the Bologna-born driver and handing him the “keys” to the car that was driven for many years by Lewis Hamilton. For many observers, this decision initially seemed like pure madness, but now it is the Austrian team principal who is having the last laugh. According to Günther Steiner, this bold move also represents a form of redemption for Wolff after missing out on Max Verstappen as Hamilton’s successor.

Steiner’s comments

“With Kimi, Toto still thinks back to when he wasn’t able to secure Verstappen, and this is now a kind of small revenge for him: he was aiming to sign the next superstar,” said the Italian-born former team principal during his appearance on Drive to Wynn.

“The management at Mercedes? Toto is above these things—he doesn’t favor one over the other. For him, the most important thing is that the team wins,” he added. “I don’t think he needs to spend much time managing George, he can handle himself. And I think Toto treats them both the same way—they are two drivers who have grown up within Mercedes.”

In summary, the emergence of Kimi Antonelli as a title contender has shifted the dynamic at Mercedes, turning a bold succession plan into a direct battle for supremacy. While the shadow of missing out on Max Verstappen may have influenced Toto Wolff’s decision-making, the current results suggest that Mercedes has successfully cultivated its own superstar to lead the team into this new era of Formula 1.