Toto Wolff Admits Regret Over Mercedes F1 D...read more

Toto Wolff Admits Regret Over Mercedes F1 Driver Call as 2026 Decision Looms

Mercedes Formula 1 Team Principal Toto Wolff has conceded he made a misjudgment in thrusting rookie Kimi Antonelli into the spotlight during last season’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza, describing the decision as emotionally driven and “not our most intelligent call.”

Antonelli, then freshly announced as Lewis Hamilton’s successor, was given the chance to impress during FP1 at his home Grand Prix. However, the debut turned sour when the teenage Italian crashed into the barriers while driving George Russell’s car, cutting short his highly anticipated outing.

Reflecting on the incident at the recent Austrian Grand Prix, Wolff admitted, “I think when we look at last year, it wasn’t our most intelligent call to put him in the car in Monza, give him all the pressure, and then obviously with the incident, that’s something that’s in the back of your mind.”

Despite the inauspicious start, Antonelli has recovered well and is enjoying a solid rookie campaign. His standout moment came in June with a sensational third-place finish at the Canadian Grand Prix, a result that Wolff believes validated the team’s long-term faith in the young driver.

“With the podium now, you can shake that off and say: ‘I’ve proven that I can be fast,’” Wolff said. “Throughout the year, we gave him lots of space to explore, to develop, to under-hit, or also push hard when he felt confident in the car. In that respect, I think that is what you can expect from a driver that can be a champion one day.”

Mercedes Facing Major 2026 Driver Dilemma

While Antonelli’s development has been promising, Wolff is now facing a critical decision for the 2026 season. The contracts of both Antonelli and teammate George Russell expire at the end of 2025, and speculation is rife that Red Bull’s Max Verstappen could be available.

Should Mercedes pursue the four-time world champion, one of their current drivers may be forced to make way.

When asked whether Russell holds priority status, given his race wins and long-standing ties to the Mercedes setup, Wolff responded: “Well, he needs to be top of the list because he’s a race winner with us. He’s a Mercedes junior. He’s been with the team for a long time.”

So far, both Russell and Antonelli have remained outwardly unaffected by the swirling rumors, focusing instead on performance. Russell, who began the season in strong form and was even mentioned as a potential title contender, has seen results dip recently, placing added pressure on him to reaffirm his position.

With Antonelli’s upward trajectory and Verstappen’s potential availability, the Mercedes driver conundrum for 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing stories on the F1 grid.