Mercedes: Toto Wolff protects Kimi Antonelli to avoid repeating a major past mistake. Kimi Antonelli is under Toto Wolff’s wing due to a regret linked to a past F1 driver.

Toto Wolff signed Antonelli to Mercedes when the Bologna-born driver was just 13 years old. Now, Kimi is ready to make his F1 debut, and the Mercedes team principal is convinced he can bring glory back to both the team and Italy.

Wolff’s words, spoken just weeks before the start of the 2025 F1 season, make it clear how much trust he has in the young rookie, who will share the garage with George Russell.

The Mercedes team principal is so confident in Antonelli’s potential that he has compared him to a contemporary great—Max Verstappen. Mercedes had the opportunity to sign the Dutchman before he entered F1 but let him slip away. During his junior career, Max Verstappen received a far more enticing offer from Red Bull, which allowed him to jump straight into F1 without competing in F2.

That wouldn’t have been possible had Max Verstappen chosen the Mercedes Junior Team. Given the Dutchman’s success in recent years, Toto Wolff was determined not to make the same mistake again. He himself hinted that signing Antonelli was not only about giving a talented young driver an opportunity but also a form of personal redemption.

“I couldn’t repeat the mistake I made with Max Verstappen, who ended up at Red Bull. The preparations with Kimi have been going well—they started many, many years ago. I’d love to see an Italian driver winning again; it’s been a long time since that happened, and it would be a great story to write.”

Kimi Antonelli carries significant pressure and expectations, and Toto Wolff took a moment to address this to ensure it doesn’t affect his performance. He emphasized that rookies need time to adapt, which is one of the reasons why a former Mercedes driver has returned to work with the team.

“I wanted him, and I will keep him under my wing for as long as necessary. Both Kimi and the team are aware that no expectations should be placed on him before 2026. On that side of the garage, Valtteri Bottas has returned, also to keep an eye on Kimi. He’ll be here to coach him and monitor what happens on track. And Kimi will learn from Valtteri and George Russell.” – the Mercedes team boss concluded.