Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has acknowledged that the performance of rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli aligns with pre-season expectations. The young Italian driver from Bologna is making waves in his debut Formula 1 season, recently securing pole position in the Sprint Qualifying at the Miami GP and achieving his first podium in Canada. Kimi Antonelli faced a particularly challenging period during the European leg of the season but bounced back strongly in Brazil and Las Vegas after some doubts about Mercedes’ decisions.
Following his second-place finishes in both the Sprint and main races at Interlagos, the 19-year-old impressed everyone with his remarkable recovery from 17th on the grid in the United States, finishing fifth and later being elevated to the podium after the disqualification of both McLaren cars. These performances overall confirmed what Team Principal Toto Wolff had anticipated before the season, when the Austrian manager had backed Kimi Antonelli for 2025 despite his young age.
A rookie season meeting expectations
According to Toto Wolff, Kimi Antonelli’s season has largely met expectations regarding his growth in his first F1 world championship. He has had to navigate pressure while delivering standout results, especially in the last few Grands Prix. Toto Wolff commented: “I think he’s 19 years old, and we’ve always said that a first season can be challenging, and that’s what we’ve seen at times. He was thrown into one of the top teams, didn’t know many of the Grands Prix, and faced the pressure that comes with being a Formula 1 driver, which is why I expected this kind of progression. But next year will be completely different. Of course, it’s a learning experience for all drivers. Not just for him; he has been traveling, learning circuits, and experiencing the pressures that come with being a professional driver. He will be more mature next year, so everything is going according to plan.”
Looking ahead to 2026
Toto Wolff addressed both the present and future, acknowledging the challenges Kimi Antonelli faced this year while fully supporting the decision to bring him into F1. However, starting next season, the Team Principal hopes to see more consistent performances: “Honestly, throughout the season I never questioned that decision because we always said we expected ups and downs: moments of glory and moments that make you want to pull your hair out. This is not the end of his development; we are still in the early stages, and I hope next year we will see even more from Kimi—solid performances, and hopefully this will continue for many years to come.” – the Mercedes team boss concluded.
With a year of Formula 1 experience now under his belt, including vital lessons in tyre management, race starts and dealing with the spotlight that comes with driving for Mercedes, Kimi Antonelli heads into 2026 armed with the maturity Wolff believes will unlock consistent front-running form alongside George Russell.
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