Andrew Kimi Antonelli was fast tracked into Formula One following the surprise decision by Lewis Hamilton to quit his Mercedes team just weeks after signing a new contract. The dreaded Toto Wolff speciality “one plus one” deal with his seven times world champion driver did not offer Hamilton the security he desired and his request for a ten year Mercedes’ ambassador role was rejected.
Then young Italian had signed to the Mercedes junior driver programme in 2018 and went on to claim a number of region titles including the Italian F4 championship and the Formula regional middle east series in 2023. Yet Kimi was first tested last season when Mercedes entered him directly into the FIA’s international F2 junior formulae series, where its fair to say he struggled and despite leading the title race at one point, he slid to an anonymous P6 come the end off the year.
The Mercedes rookie driver has had a baptism of fire since replacing Hamilton despite starting his F1 adventure well with five points scoring finishes in his first six Grand Prix. Yet a run of poor results since Imola have seen Antonelli score just one point in nine race weekends, with the exception of his podium third in Canada.
The infamous ‘summer reset’
With the F1 summer break over and the word “reset” being the most common notion amongst the paddock illuminati in Zandvoort, Kimi claimed he was fresh and ready to kick start his stalling season. Yet in the second qualifying session, he was over a second behind his team mate and again knocked out set to start the race in P15.
Come the Grand Prix, Antonelli started brilliantly making up places and taking advantage of a cheap pit stop under the safety car. He came out just behind Leclerc but such was his feeling of strength, he attempted what no one does in Zandvoort, try the low line in the banked turn 3. Carrying too much speed, the Mercedes driver predicatively understeered up the track and into Leclerc ending his race there and then.
Antonelli picked up a 10-second penalty for causing the collision. Moments later, the young Italian compounded his misery with a pit lane speeding infringement, earning an additional five-second penalty to cap off a nightmare Sunday. The clash immediately reignited debate over Mercedes’ bold decision to fast-track Antonelli into Formula One. Critics, including 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, were scathing. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, however, insisted that such hard knocks were part of the learning curve.
Villenuve lambasts Antonelli
Never one to mince his words, Villeneuve ridiculed Antonelli’s move on Leclerc. “Very poor. A move you might see in Formula 4 or Formula 3 from a driver without experience,” he told Sky Sports F1. “When you’re in F1, you make mistakes by pushing too hard or being on the limit. But this wasn’t that — it was just badly calculated. He shouldn’t have done it. And then he got all riled up and sped in the pitlane as well. Maybe F1 is just too much for him.”
When it was suggested that Antonelli’s age should be taken into account, Villeneuve snapped back. “No, he’s in Formula 1! What age was Max when he arrived? What age was Lewis? That’s not an excuse.”
The Canadian pointed to the sheer distance Antonelli was from Leclerc before diving in. “He was two car lengths behind before the corner. On which planet did he think it would stick? Everyone knows the inside line there doesn’t work unless you’re already alongside. It was just poor calculation. And he should be better than that in F1.”
Wolff, who staked his reputation on promoting Antonelli straight to a Mercedes seat, admitted the rookie’s weekend was messy but framed it as part of the process. “At the beginning of the year, we said there would be moments that would make us tear our hair out and others of brilliance. This weekend pretty much sums that up,” he said.
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Wolff claims ‘Italians would have been proud’
Wolff pointed to Antonelli’s recovery pace once in free air, where he was able to chase the McLarens, as evidence of potential. “We want him to go for the moves, obviously. Ups and downs were expected this season. Every one of those days is going to be a learning for next year.”
He even suggested that Italian fans would relish Antonelli’s aggression heading into Monza. “I was thinking in the race, what if Kimi had overtaken a Ferrari? The people in Italy would have been happy. Italian fans want a driver that fights, that pushes the car to the limit and sometimes over it. That’s what happened today.”
Yet Wolff did not shy away from the collateral damage. “From the team’s perspective, we don’t want to take a Ferrari out, certainly not. And Kimi doesn’t want that either. It’s hard racing, unfortunate, and I’m sorry for Charles and Ferrari. But we want him to go for the moves.”
Toto buys his rookie time
The verdict on Antonelli’s performance amongst the sand dunes in the Netherlands depends on which prism from which it is viewed. Through Villeneuve’s eyes, Antonelli’s Turn 3 lunge was the F1 equivalent of a toddler trying to dunk on LeBron James — ambitious, doomed, and faintly embarrassing. Through Wolff’s eyes, it was the kind of bold mistake that proves a rookie is at least brave enough to try.
The truth probably lies somewhere in between. Yes, Antonelli’s dive looked optimistic at best and reckless at worst, but the kid is 18 and carrying Mercedes’ expectations like a millstone. Villeneuve, never one for diplomacy, was brutal in his assessment, dismissing Antonelli’s age and reminding everyone that Verstappen and Hamilton were just as young when they debuted. What Villeneuve omitted, of course, is that both also had their own moments of chaos when learning the ropes.
For Wolff, the challenge now is managing perception. He has bet the house on Antonelli, and every mistake will be magnified tenfold. By spinning the Leclerc incident as part of the process — and even as something Italian fans might perversely enjoy — he is buying his rookie time. But Monza looms, and if Antonelli makes another rash move on home soil, the tifosi may be less forgiving than the Mercedes boss.
Hadjar emerges as Verstappen’s next partner after shock podium
Red Bull second seat curse resolved – The penultimate running of the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort was not one for the Formula One purist as once again the circuit made overtaking almost impossible without a considerable tyre offset. Fernando Alonso demonstrated this when stuck in a DRS he pitted for fresh rubber not only making up the time he lost changing tyres, but he caught and passed his rivals with a two second a lap overspeed, before a safety car ruined all his efforts.
Yet the race in the west of the Netherlands was far from a dull affair, as three safety cars along with its virtual brother were deployed throughout the 72 laps. The biggest smile came from the Racing Bulls Isack Hadjar, who boldly predicted before the start of the season that he would stand on the podium in 2025.
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
