Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff does not expect Antonelli to reach his peak in 2026, his second season – it will take several years.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s first season in Formula 1 has been encouraging for Mercedes, but team boss Toto Wolff urges patience. The young Italian is still at the very beginning of his development and may not be able to reach his full potential in the premier class for several years.
In the Beyond The Grid podcast, Wolff was asked when he expects his protégé to reach his peak performance. The answer is clear: “When do we expect him to reach his peak performance? In three to five years from now. And we have to give him that time.”
Antonelli made his Formula 1 debut this season with extremely limited preparation.
As a two-time Formula 4 and Formula Regional champion, Antonelli had completely skipped Formula 3 and completed only a single season in Formula 2 before venturing into Formula 1.
His debut season was correspondingly mixed.
The 19-year-old made several driving errors and, for long stretches, lacked the performance of his experienced Mercedes teammate George Russell.
The 19-year-old made several driving errors and, for long stretches, lacked the performance of his experienced Mercedes teammate George Russell. In qualifying, Antonelli lost significantly to the Briton by 5:24, apart from the sprint qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps, which was affected by a brake problem.
The difference was also reflected in the points tally: Antonelli scored 150 points compared to Russell’s 319. When asked what Antonelli still needs to work on, Wolff emphasizes that it’s not just about driving skills: “I think he knows a lot about this sport because he lives and breathes it every day.
But there’s also the human component. As a young man, you have to mature and learn to deal with the dynamics and pressure of this environment. But I think, without a doubt, it’s all going in the right direction.”
2025 debut doubly important for Antonelli
Antonelli’s early Formula 1 debut in 2025, which would not have happened without Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, gave him valuable experience at a crucial time. This is because a comprehensive new technical regulation will come into force in Formula 1 from the 2026 season onwards.
Mercedes High Performance Powertrains also sees Antonelli’s early involvement as a major advantage. Managing Director Hywel Thomas points out that the handling of the new cars will change significantly from 2026 onwards.
“I think what we know and have seen in the simulators is that driving next year will be very different from this year. There is a lot to learn and many new things. It would be extremely difficult for someone to get started with this in their first year,“ the engineer points out. This makes it all the more important that Antonelli is already part of the team and knows the internal processes: ”I’m glad he’s already completed this year, glad he knows the team and is part of it. He has also been to Brixworth many times.“
”We have discussed many of the technical changes that are coming, and he is contributing to that. Yes, I am really very glad that he drove this year.”
