Wolff Weighs In: Antonelli’s Triumph, Mercedes’ 2025 F1 Driver Strategy Amidst Resurgence

Toto Wolff shares his thoughts on Kimi Antonelli's first victory and Mercedes' F1 2025 driver selection

How will Mercedes' current comeback influence their choice of F1 driver for 2025? Toto Wolff weighs in.

Toto Wolff has shared his thoughts on Mercedes young talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli's impressive victory in Formula 2, and offered an update on how the team is approaching its driver selection for the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Following a lackluster beginning to the 2024 season, Mercedes has recently seen a surge in their competitive performance, clinching victories in consecutive races at the Austrian and British Grands Prix.

Mercedes is on the lookout for a new driver to fill the void left by Lewis Hamilton, who is set to join Ferrari. Hamilton recently celebrated his first win since 2021, a significant moment that came during the latest race at Silverstone.

In response to a question about whether the improvement in Mercedes' performance will complicate their choice of drivers for 2025, Wolff maintained, "It doesn't affect our decision-making process."

I've consistently argued for the importance of having a fast car; once we secure such a vehicle and place a driver inside, things start to become captivating, particularly for numerous drivers.

"However, I believe it's important for us to remain composed and carry on with the season, keeping our attention on the car. We should then assess if our options remain unchanged. Winning races doesn't necessarily alter everything or completely upend our strategies."

Mercedes is reportedly leaning towards elevating their 17-year-old talent Antonelli, who recently clinched his first F2 victory at the Silverstone sprint race, despite the availability of notable drivers such as Carlos Sainz.

"Wolff recounted an instance where the most accomplished British racer was finishing up at the British Grand Prix, and there was this young Italian in the garage, someone who didn't even possess a driver's license yet, observing everything. Wolff speculated that the youngster probably dreamed of achieving that level of success himself one day, perhaps not at that exact location, but maybe at Monza, when talking about Antonelli."

This season, F2 has proven to be quite the challenge due to issues with the vehicle. It's evident that both he and his teammate, Oliver Bearman, are facing significant difficulties managing the car. He's dissatisfied with his performance and lacks the speed needed during the races.

Observing him on Saturday gliding across the water, occasionally outpacing everyone else by two seconds, it's evident he possesses remarkable talent, skill, and promise.

"Securing victory in that contest seemed to really lighten his burden. However, today ended in a Did Not Finish (DNF), though no blame lies with him. Susie [Wolff] has a saying, ‘when you qualify among fools, you race among fools’."

Explore Further

Recent Updates

Current Headlines

Site Navigation

CrashNet

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

Copying or reproducing text, photos, or illustrations in whole or in part is strictly forbidden.