BREAKING NEWS: Toto Wolff Says Crash For Andrea Kimi On........

Toto Wolff Unfazed by Antonelli’s Crash as Mercedes Eyes Future with Italian Prodigy

In a dramatic turn of events at the Italian Grand Prix, young Italian driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s first Formula 1 practice session for Mercedes ended abruptly after a crash just 12 minutes in. Despite the incident, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff made it clear that the crash would have “zero” impact on the team’s decision regarding Lewis Hamilton’s replacement for the 2025 season.

The 18-year-old Antonelli, highly regarded as one of the most promising talents in motorsport, was given his first taste of F1 machinery during Practice One at Monza. However, his debut was cut short when he lost control of the Mercedes W15 at Parabolica, one of the circuit’s most challenging corners, and collided with the barriers. The car sustained significant damage, but Antonelli emerged unscathed.

Mercedes has yet to officially confirm Hamilton’s replacement, but speculation is rife that Antonelli is the frontrunner to partner George Russell from 2025, with Hamilton widely expected to make a high-profile switch to Ferrari. Despite the crash, Wolff remained steadfast in his support for the young driver.

During a press conference following the session, Wolff was asked if the crash would influence the team’s decision-making process. His response was unequivocal: “No, zero effect. I think most important is to hire based on ability. An FP1 that’s gone wrong is not the reason why you decide for or against a driver.”

Wolff praised Antonelli’s performance in the short time he was on track, describing his pace as “astonishing.” The Italian briefly topped the timesheets on his first lap and set the fastest middle sector on his second lap just before the crash. Wolff emphasized that these moments of brilliance far outweigh the mishap that followed.

“It’s great. He’s a pleasure to watch. You can see the raw speed that he has,” Wolff said. “Going out there, blasting first lap, second lap. I think the speeds that he had in the Lesmo and Ascari were not matched any more in the session.”

The Mercedes boss continued to highlight the positives of Antonelli’s debut, emphasizing that the incident is part of the learning process for any young driver making the step up to Formula 1. “I’d rather slow somebody down and calm him down than the other way around to make somebody quicker because the second one is not possible. So that’s part of the learning curve,” Wolff added.

Antonelli’s rapid rise through the junior ranks has seen him win multiple championships, and his promotion to Formula 1 has been eagerly anticipated by fans and pundits alike. His raw speed and aggressive driving style have drawn comparisons to a young Lewis Hamilton, making him a natural choice to fill the seat when Hamilton departs.

The crash, while unfortunate, is unlikely to derail Antonelli’s trajectory within the team. Wolff’s comments suggest that Mercedes values the potential and talent that Antonelli brings to the table, recognizing that mistakes are an inevitable part of a young driver’s development.

As the Italian Grand Prix weekend unfolds, all eyes will be on Mercedes to see if they will officially announce Antonelli as Russell’s teammate for the 2025 season. Despite the early setback, the Italian teenager’s brief display of pace has already given a tantalizing glimpse of what could be the start of a new era for Mercedes.

With Hamilton’s move to Ferrari expected to be confirmed soon, the baton appears ready to be passed to Antonelli, a driver who, despite a rough start, has already shown flashes of brilliance that could make him one of F1’s next big stars.