Andrea Kimi Antonelli has just completed his first season in Formula 1. The Italian driver for Mercedes faced many ups and downs over the course of 24 races. After a highly competitive start to the season, he experienced a setback during the European rounds but managed to return to his early-season form by the end of the year. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff also reviewed Antonelli’s season, reflecting on podiums, points scored, and valuable lessons learned.
The “forecast” from Wolff
Mercedes recently shared an interview conducted by Laura Winter with Toto Wolff, in which the team principal revisited some of the most significant moments of the season for both George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, providing his evaluation along the way.
Regarding Kimi Antonelli’s season, Wolff was not surprised. In fact, he had predicted much of what occurred as early as 2024. The Brackley-based team principal stated: “Last year, when we announced that he would be driving the car, I said that we would have highs and lows, moments of brilliance and other moments where you want to pull your hair out due to what you call learning, but which are actually mistakes. That’s just how it is. And I think we saw exactly that.”
Despite some challenges encountered by the Italian rookie throughout the season, Wolff reiterated his full confidence in Kimi Antonelli: “We saw very strong performances early in the season, particularly towards the end. But I believe we never doubted his speed, talent, or capabilities. It’s just that you are thrust into Formula One. The intense media pressure, the responsibility you have toward Mercedes, toward all the people giving their all to provide you with an engine and a car.”
Wolff added: “And I think that this was probably the main learning during the mid-part of the season, especially in Europe.”
According to the Mercedes team principal, this season has served to lay the foundations for Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s future campaigns: “Overall, I see a good season, full of learning, a solid base to build upon and to start 2026 with a new car, new for everyone.”
Ferrari connections aside—Kimi Antonelli was once part of their junior program—his commitment to Mercedes feels strong. Fans eager for the new era will watch how this promising talent evolves, building on a foundation forged through 2025’s trials and triumphs.
Leave a Reply