Mercedes boss shares why ‘no other team’ would have given Kimi Antonelli a chance.
Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff recently shared that no other team would have been brave enough to bring Kimi Antonelli into their lineup. The young racing star has become F1’s youngest-ever champion, even though not many expected him to shine before this season.
Wolff believes that Mercedes’ unique way of supporting Kimi helped him reach this amazing success. Kimi was signed by Mercedes at just 11 years old while karting, and many have long seen his potential. But after a tough 2024 Formula 2 season, where he had a few wins but also some struggles, many thought he still needed more time to grow.
When Lewis Hamilton suddenly moved to Ferrari, Mercedes had a seat open. Wolff decided to take a chance on Kimi. After Kimi won the championship at just 20 years and 68 days old, people praised the decision. Wolff said he’s not sure other teams would have made the same choice.
He said, “I’m proud because I don’t think Kimi would’ve lasted at other teams. After a tough F2 season and going nine races without points last year, we trusted our data and believed in his character and potential.”
Wolff added that developing Kimi took time — they nurtured and protected him until both he and the car performed amazingly well. Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord even shared an email where Wolff thanked the whole team for supporting Kimi behind the scenes.
Wolff explained why: “I got a lot of praise after Kimi’s win, especially from Italy, which means a lot. But I wanted to thank all the people who worked hard but weren’t in the spotlight. Many helped get Kimi to where he is.”
On a different note, George Russell has had a tough 2026, with a few wins but also some disappointing races. Wolff said he still believes in George and praised his professionalism.
He shared, “After a hard day in Mexico, George called me the next morning to ask how he could improve his car setup and get back on track for the rest of this season and next year. That’s George for you.”