Antonelli impressed Mercedes during F1 test. Mercedes Technical Director James Allison said young Andrea Kimi Antonelli showed “metronomic pace” during his test with Mercedes in Austria in April. The youngster also garnered praise from Lewis Hamilton who believes the young Italian could succeed him despite Wolff’s pursuit of Verstappen.
Mercedes junior driver Kimi Antonelli got his first taste of a Formula 1 single-seater this year with a two-day test at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, where the Italian covered almost 500 kilometres at the wheel of the Mercedes W12.
“Very, very fast, with a metronomic pace”
Asked about Antonelli’s test at Imola on Friday, James Allison said Mercedes team engineers had praised the young driver: “He’s an enthusiastic young driver, very, very fast, with a metronomic pace.”
“He hadn’t driven in an F1 single-seater until recently, but he gave the impression that he had done so for ages in a lap or two.”
“He takes things as they are and tells us what he feels the strengths and weaknesses are. He then lets the engineers work to try and improve things. He sounds like a very promising young driver,” added Allison.
Rumours suggest that Toto Wolff – who is friends with the Antonelli family – could opt to put the young Italian in the Mercedes next year alongside George Russell to fill the gap left by Lewis Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari.
Wolff denies Antonelli a seat just yet
But Wolff recently said that Andrea Kimi Antonelli still needs to learn more to develop as a driver, despite the youngster being just 17 years old.
“I’m probably guilty of talking too much about Kimi [Antonelli], because he’s only 17, he’s jumped into F3 and he’s entering F2. He still needs to learn, to learn more,” said the Mercedes boss in March.
“He needs to learn, let’s say, behind the scenes to be able to develop, understand what to do if he goes to Formula 1, if everything goes according to plan, but I don’t know if that’s next year or if it’s going to be with us [Mercedes] or somebody else.”
“Lewis’ decision [to leave Mercedes to join Ferrari in 2025] was so quick that I want to do the complete opposite. I want to wait and see how the season goes, how the driver market develops, and then make the decision later in the season.”
If Toto Wolff is in no hurry, it’s because the German manufacturer’s team is spoilt for choice with many drivers entering the final year of their contract with their respective teams in 2024.
Wolff publically focused on Verstappen
With Wolff’s continual praise for Max Verstappen, even admitting to adding the Dutchman into the Hamilton succession plans, it is clear that Wolff’s eye is still firmly on Red Bull’s star driver. This has drawn much criticism from senior Red Bull members.
The latest dispute is a great example of this, with Toto Wolff, the Team Principal of Mercedes, currently fending off criticism from Red Bull’s management.
While details remain sparse and official statements are meticulously vague, the tension is palpable. Accusations of “playing chess” with driver contracts hint at a deeper game of strategy and influence, where every move and countermove can have far-reaching consequences.
At the heart of this controversy is not just a dispute over contractual negotiations but a fundamental question of respect and professional ethics in Formula 1. The debate stretches beyond mere allegations, touching on the core values of sportsmanship and integrity that are supposed to underpin the sport.
Wolff’s indifference to the criticism might be seen as a tactical response to unwarranted distraction or perhaps a calculated move to keep his team insulated from the drama. That said, the rhetoric by Wolff in the public domain is indeed the issue Red Bull has with the Austrian. An attempt to destabilise the team during a period of internal turmoil.
Amidst these developments, the rumour mill churns relentlessly. Speculations about meetings with high-profile drivers and strategic shifts within the team add layers of intrigue to an already complex narrative. The question of who will drive for Mercedes in the coming seasons is a tantalising mystery for fans and a strategic puzzle for the teams involved.
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Red Bull CEO unhappy
The conflict burst into the open during the Miami Grand Prix, when Mintzlaff publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with Mercedes’ approach. He criticised Wolff for what he perceived as disrespectful attempts to discuss personnel changes involving other teams. Mintzlaff’s remarks, reported by the German media outlet Bild am Sonntag, highlighted the pressures and challenges inherent in the high-stakes world of Formula 1 racing.
In a bold move, Wolff has responded to these accusations with a marked indifference, dismissing Mintzlaff’s comments as irrelevant and denying any underhanded tactics in his dealings. He has made it clear that his focus remains squarely on the future strategy and performance of his team, rather than engaging in media battles over driver contracts.
The controversy has ignited speculation about Mercedes’ plans for their driver lineup, particularly regarding their interest in Verstappen and the status of negotiations. However, Wolff has denied specific rumours of scheduled meetings with Verstappen and his representatives, stating that while Mercedes is actively monitoring the transfer market, no definitive decisions have been made about their 2025 driver lineup.
This public standoff between Wolff and Mintzlaff underscores the intense rivalry and strategic maneuvering that characterise Formula 1 behind the scenes. Each comment and denial adds another layer to the thrilling narrative of competition not only on the track but also in securing the top talent in the sport.
Mintzlaff: “Question of respect…”
Publically, Toto Wolff says Red Bull boss Oliver Mintzlaff’s criticism of him for wanting to sign Max Verstappen to Mercedes is “irrelevant”, as he denies “playing chess” with Formula 1 drivers.
The Mercedes boss came under fire from Oliver Mintzlaff during the Miami Grand Prix. The managing director of the Red Bull energy drinks company was not happy that Mercedes was trying to poach Verstappen from his current team.
“I understand the pressure that Toto Wolff and perhaps other teams are facing after years of delay. But I think Toto Wolff should concentrate on his challenges. He’s had enough,” Oliver Mintzlaff told German media outlet Bild am Sonntag.
“And it’s also a question of respect. If I continue to talk about the personnel of other teams, it’s not right,” continues the German.
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“If it were my role…” Hamilton defends teenager Antonelli
Formula One record world champion Lewis Hamilton could easily see teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli succeeding him at Mercedes, despite Wolff’s attempts to lure Max Verstappen to Mercedes.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, the British driver claims he didn’t know what team boss Toto Wolff’s plans were. “But if it was my job, if it was my role, I would probably take Kimi.”
Hamilton leaves Mercedes at the end of the season to drive for Ferrari in the future. Wolff is yet to make a decision on his successor. His dream driver would be Red Bull’s world champion Max Verstappen.
“Maybe he’s drawing parallels to the time when he got his chance at McLaren,” Wolff told Sky television of Hamilton’s statement. McLaren helped Hamilton, now a seven-time world champion, make his Formula One debut in 2007.
Ferrari reward with MEGA offer
Wolff praises Antonelli
Wolff praised Antonelli. The 17-year-old skipped Formula 3 and is currently racing in Formula 2. The Italian Mercedes descendant has also tested old Silver Arrows.
“He’s done very well so far, even though it’s a big leap into the deep end,” said Wolff.
“We have seen in the tests: He can do it. With the good guys you can see that it doesn’t take them long to get up to speed.”
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SO Toto Woolf …. I wouldn’t trust him to speak the truth about anything!
Max wouldn’t go to Mercedes in the medium term even if Toto offered his a billion dollars because having a consistent race winning car is more important to Max than money and Mercedes are many years from achieving that car.