Mercedes: Toto Wolff demands progress from Kimi Antonelli despite reaffirming confidence. Toto Wolff has criticised Kimi Antonelli after the Italian GP at Monza.

F1, Wolff scolds Antonelli: renews trust but demands progress

Something may not be working quite right between Kimi Antonelli and Formula 1. The young Italian is giving everything, but the difficulties remain clear. Mistakes continue to pile up, even if the Mercedes team is still protecting him in many ways. After the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, however, Toto Wolff raised his voice. The Austrian made his view clear: things must change.

Kimi has time to grow, but he must still improve

There are nine rounds left in the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship. That means there is still time to fix the situation with calm reflection. Antonelli’s talent is not in question, that much is certain. But Kimi must find a balance within himself to reduce errors as much as possible. Bryan Lord, Mercedes’ long-time communications chief, has also been clear on this point.

The Brackley-based team had always planned for this season to be one of learning. Nevertheless, some things still need correcting. Certain errors are normal, but others are caused by over-excitement or unnecessary lapses of concentration. Antonelli has yet to deliver the step forward that is expected of him, and psychologically he is clearly suffering from this difficult situation.

The lack of solid results in the highest category of motorsport is heavy to carry. Scoring strong points is essential to build confidence and optimise performance across the weekend. In Formula 1, the line between learning and decline can be thin. Many other drivers in similar circumstances have seen their careers derailed. Antonelli must avoid this at all costs.

Monza left both Kimi and the Mercedes management unsatisfied. For the first time this season, Wolff was openly severe in his judgement. And rightly so, perhaps, since too much protection does not help a struggling driver to find solutions. The team principal’s words made it clear that he was not happy with the way the 19-year-old Italian handled the final phase of the race.

Wolff scolds Antonelli

Toto did not hold back in front of the media. He said that a driver cannot expect to fight at the front when he gets stuck in the gravel during a crucial Friday practice session. Kimi’s race was described as disappointing, as Wolff insisted the weekend should have been much stronger. In his view, there was a chance to fight with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc if things had gone differently.

At the start, Antonelli made a mistake with the clutch, and in Formula 1 that kind of error always costs dearly. Five cars passed him immediately, and the race became a steep uphill battle. Running further back removed him from the chance of glory and, on top of that, he struggled to bring the Medium tyres up to their optimum temperature for maximum grip. That was another factor that caused him problems.

The race pace never really arrived. By lap 45, Alexander Albon’s Williams, on fresher tyres, was attacking him. Antonelli’s defensive move was judged unfair by the stewards, who handed him a penalty. Wolff also made his view clear here: when a driver has no tools to defend, he must accept it, raise the white flag, and lose as little time as possible rather than add to the damage.

Wolff maintains trust but wants a reaction

Indeed, trying to defend without the pace and ending the weekend with yet another mistake was not the reaction Wolff wanted. Even so, his confidence in Antonelli has not been shaken. The Mercedes boss himself stressed that scolding a driver does not mean he no longer believes in him.

Instead, Wolff is already looking ahead to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, where in less than two weeks Antonelli will have a chance to redeem himself and prove his worth. Toto has asked him to show his true talent at a track he already knows from junior categories. Will the pressure be lower? Perhaps. But what is certain is that Mercedes’ support remains, even if the boss now demands a stronger reaction.

After all, Antonelli deserves the opportunity. Wolff fought hard to put the young Italian in the W16, even when some within Mercedes were not fully convinced. He is a natural talent who just needs to unlock his potential. The past must serve as a lesson, without letting results become a burden. Now all eyes turn to the Baku City Circuit, where Mercedes expects a precise and determined response from Kimi Antonelli.