Mercedes’ 2025 Driver Dilemma: Toto Wolff Weighs in on Kimi Antonelli’s F2 Triumph and Team’s Future Lineup

Toto Wolff shares his thoughts on Kimi Antonelli's first major win and the selection of Mercedes' driver for the 2025 F1 season. Will Mercedes' comeback influence their driver choice for 2025? Toto Wolff weighs in.

Toto Wolff has shared his thoughts on Mercedes junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli's first win in Formula 2 and offered an update on the team's decision-making process regarding their drivers for the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Following a lackluster beginning to the 2024 season, Mercedes has recently experienced a resurgence in performance, securing consecutive victories at the Austrian and British Grands Prix.

Mercedes must find a new driver to replace Lewis Hamilton, who is moving to Ferrari. Hamilton recently celebrated his first win since 2021, bringing an emotional end to his victory drought at Silverstone.

When questioned about whether Mercedes' improved performance will complicate their driver selection for 2025, Wolff firmly stated, “It does not affect our decision-making process.”

"I have consistently emphasized the necessity of a fast car. Once we have such a vehicle, we place the driver inside, and things become intriguing for numerous drivers."

"However, I believe it's important for us to remain composed and keep progressing through the season. We should maintain our focus on the vehicle and then assess if our options remain consistent. This doesn't mean that winning races will drastically alter everything or turn the situation on its head."

Sources suggest that Mercedes is leaning towards advancing their 17-year-old prodigy Antonelli, who recently claimed his first F2 victory in the Silverstone sprint race, despite other options like Carlos Sainz being on the market.

In a significant moment, the top British driver was wrapping up with us at the British Grand Prix, while in the garage, a young Italian who doesn't even have a driver's license was observing the scene. I imagine he thought to himself, 'I want to be that someday. Maybe not here, but perhaps at Monza,' Wolff commented about Antonelli.

This season, Formula 2 has been particularly challenging due to the car. Both he and his teammate, Oliver Bearman, are having significant difficulties with it. He is dissatisfied with his driving and lacks the speed needed during races.

Observing him on Saturday as he moved across the water, often outpacing everyone else by two seconds, it becomes clear just how talented, capable, and promising this young man is.

Securing victory in that race seemed to really relieve a lot of pressure for him. Although today he did not finish, it wasn't due to any mistake on his part. Susie Wolff often remarks, "if you qualify with inexperienced drivers, you compete with inexperienced drivers."

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