Toto Wolff’s verdict on Antonelli after Baku: now only one thing is missing
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku marked a turning point in the rookie season of Kimi Antonelli in Formula 1. After several difficult races and heavy criticism following Zandvoort and Monza, the young Italian talent finally found stability, finishing fourth and confirming himself as one of the standouts on the demanding Baku street circuit.
This result did not go unnoticed by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who emphasized both the importance of the finish and the progress shown by his driver. “It was a very good comeback after Monza. He had a really tough period during the European races, but here he showed that he can fight consistently in the leading group. This is a result he can build on to achieve more positive weekends until the end of the season,” Toto Wolff explained.
Antonelli, who had disappointed at Monza with a mistake in FP2 and an overall underwhelming performance, bounced back with a brilliant qualifying session — securing fourth place — and a flawless race execution. Wolff added: “Perhaps he lacked something in terms of pure performance to make the difference and challenge for the podium, but this fourth place was crucial to regain confidence and consolidate his position.”
The Austrian boss now calls for consistency from the young Italian, not only to help Kimi Antonelli continue improving as a driver but also to secure Mercedes’ second place in the Constructors’ Championship, which was strengthened thanks to Sunday’s results. Alongside Kimi Antonelli’s strong showing, George Russell delivered a solid drive to second place, despite a weekend complicated by physical issues.
For the German team, it was therefore a double success in Baku, one that reinforced their battle against Ferrari in the championship standings and confirmed the ongoing progress of Mercedes in the 2025 Formula 1 season.
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