BREAKING NEWS: Toto Wolff’s Quick Decision to Promote…After Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari Move. Read More
Toto Wolff’s Quick Decision to Promote…After Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari Move. Read More
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed that his decision to promote Kimi Antonelli to a full-time seat at Mercedes came just minutes after Lewis Hamilton confirmed his departure to Ferrari for 2025. Hamilton’s shocking decision, which was disclosed back in January, left Mercedes in search of a replacement, but Wolff needed only a brief moment to settle on Antonelli, one of Mercedes’ most promising young talents.
For months, Antonelli, a standout in Mercedes’ junior program, seemed a natural choice to fill Hamilton’s seat. Despite his rapid ascent through the ranks, having just moved into Formula 2 this year, the 18-year-old Italian has long been viewed as a future star. However, Mercedes did briefly explore other options, including Carlos Sainz of Ferrari, as a potential successor to Hamilton.
At one point, Max Verstappen, the reigning World Champion, also entered the conversation. Mercedes publicly pursued the Dutch driver when his contract situation with Red Bull appeared uncertain. However, Verstappen ultimately decided to stay with Red Bull, distancing himself from the possibility of a shock switch to Mercedes.
Even though Verstappen may have been Mercedes’ top target if he became available, Wolff clarified that his heart was always set on promoting Antonelli. The young driver, who has been groomed by Mercedes since his early karting days, was the candidate Wolff truly wanted alongside George Russell—a former Mercedes junior himself.
“I made up my mind five minutes after Lewis Hamilton told me that he’s going to Ferrari,” Wolff said with a smile during an interview with media at the Italian Grand Prix, including PlanetF1.com. He acknowledged that Mercedes had considered other drivers, but ultimately, Antonelli was always the preferred choice. Wolff admitted that while the team had discussed the possibility of Verstappen joining, Antonelli’s fast-tracked rise through the ranks was something Mercedes felt confident about.
Sitting alongside Wolff during media engagements on Saturday morning, Antonelli shared his own perspective on the timeline of the decision. Although Wolff made up his mind quickly, the young driver wasn’t informed of the team’s plans until much later. He described the months following Hamilton’s announcement as a period of intense discussions between him, Wolff, and the Mercedes team.
“Straight after the [Lewis] announcement, there’s been a lot of talking with Toto and the team as well,” Antonelli explained. “But my goal was always to perform in Formula 2 and during TPC [Trackside Performance Coaching] testing. I was focused on delivering results and waiting to see what the final decision would be.”
Reflecting on the moment he was informed of his promotion, Antonelli recalled that he was testing in Silverstone with a Formula 3 car at the time. “So, no, actually, I wasn’t there,” he laughed, referring to the pivotal moment when Wolff decided on his promotion.
While promoting Antonelli directly to a Mercedes seat carries significant risks, given his relative lack of experience in Formula 1, Wolff expressed confidence in the decision. He praised Mercedes’ junior scouting team, led by Gwen Lagrue, for discovering Antonelli during his karting days and nurturing his development into a top-tier racing talent.
“I think most of the credit needs to go to Gwen [Lagrue] and his team, who manage our academy because they can scout from a very early age onwards,” Wolff said. “We, as Mercedes, wouldn’t have found Kimi. He was 11 years old, and we saw the results on the track and worked with the karting teams.”
Wolff reflected on how Antonelli’s journey differed from Russell’s path to Formula 1. While Russell had to prove himself with Williams for several years before earning a promotion to Mercedes, Antonelli will bypass the traditional route. Wolff admitted that perhaps Russell spent too long at the back of the grid and that the team was eager to avoid a similar situation with Antonelli.
“Maybe we’ve learned a lesson as George was maybe too long at Williams,” Wolff noted. “He made some of the mistakes at Williams, where he was also visible. Now we fast-tracked Kimi, and the mistakes are going to be more visible because it’s in a Mercedes.”
Despite the challenges that lie ahead, Wolff emphasized that Mercedes is fully prepared for the inevitable learning curve Antonelli will face. He expressed pride in seeing two drivers, Russell and Antonelli, who have both come through Mercedes’ junior program, now representing the team at the highest level of motorsport.
“We’re absolutely ready for that investment. Having these two guys, full Mercedes juniors, now in Formula 1 is really great to see,” Wolff said, crediting the hard work of the junior team in identifying and nurturing young talent.
With Antonelli now firmly on the fast track to Formula 1 stardom, all eyes will be on Mercedes as they enter a new era with two homegrown talents leading the charge.
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