Mercedes F1 | From Monza to Baku: Kimi Antonelli’s comeback impresses Toto Wolff. Kimi Antonelli shines in Baku with a fourth-place finish.

F1 | Kimi Antonelli shines in Baku with a fourth-place finish, earning praise from Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff

Two weeks after a challenging Italian Grand Prix, where he finished ninth and received a penalty, Kimi Antonelli achieved what can be considered a personal redemption in Baku. The Mercedes rookie secured fourth place in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, marking his best result since his podium in Canada. A highly satisfying performance for the Italian driver, who seems to have regained form after several disappointing races, partly due to the W16’s performance limitations. At the end of the weekend, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who had been openly critical of Antonelli after Monza, shifted his tone and acknowledged the young driver’s progress.

Wolff’s comments

“It was truly an excellent comeback after Monza,” Toto Wolff told the media in post-race interviews. “He had faced a difficult period during the European races, but arriving here and securing a solid fourth place, consistently running with the leaders, provides an important foundation to build and consolidate on. Now the goal is to continue delivering positive weekends through the end of the season.” – he pointed out.

The Austrian team principal also emphasized the importance of maintaining open communication with his driver: “We always speak very openly and hide nothing from each other,” he said. “In Monza, Kimi didn’t even meet his own expectations: the driving wasn’t what he wanted or expected. Perhaps he lacked that extra bit of performance that could have made the difference to reach the podium, but this race was a true consolidation. In my view, achieving a result like this was essential.” – the Mercedes team boss concluded at the end of the Baku Grand Prix weekend.