Kimi Antonelli admits “Toto Wolff supports you even in difficult moments, he helped me a lot”. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who will make his F1 race debut in Melbourne, is grateful to Toto Wolff.

Antonelli’s Gratitude Toward Toto Wolff

On one side, the most successful driver in history; on the other, a young talent who has yet to see his first checkered flag in F1. A decision that anywhere else would have required endless deliberations and reconsiderations was made swiftly at Mercedes, where Toto Wolff replaced Lewis Hamilton with Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Only the dream of securing Max Verstappen could have prevented Kimi Antonelli’s debut with the Brackley team. Once it became clear that the Dutchman would not be leaving Red Bull, Toto Wolff followed his instincts, placing his trust in the young driver from Bologna for 2025. A driver he holds in high regard and who now aims to repay that trust.

Kimi Antonelli’s Words

“We have a great relationship, not just professionally but also outside the track,” Kimi Antonelli told The Athletic. “He is a fantastic person who supports you in good times but also in difficult ones. I’m very happy to be with him. He has helped me a lot.” – he pointed out.

Kimi Antonelli, who is also acting as a karting tutor for Wolff’s son Jack, wants to make the most of his opportunity in Formula 1. The challenge is managing the pressure that got the better of him, like during FP1 in Monza when he struggled under the spotlight. Wolff understood this well and publicly defended the 2006-born driver after the incident, recognizing that last year’s mistake was simply his first in F1—a natural step for a young talent who just needs time to grow.