Mercedes rookie driver Kimi Antonelli acknowledged his Kimi Antonelli underwhelming Monza race performance following a direct critique from team principal Toto Wolff after the Italian Grand Prix. Wolff’s candid remarks marked a rare moment of public disapproval for the young driver, urging more consistent and error-free race weekends moving forward.
Antonelli Accepts Wolff’s Critical Assessment of Monza Race
After a promising start to his first Formula 1 season, 18-year-old Italian driver Kimi Antonelli has faced challenges in sustaining that early momentum. Over his last ten grands prix, he managed to finish in point-scoring positions just three times, revealing inconsistency in his performances. Throughout these difficulties, Toto Wolff had usually defended Antonelli’s efforts, but his tone shifted significantly following the Italian GP at Monza, where Antonelli finished ninth.
Wolff openly described Antonelli’s weekend as “underwhelming,” a term he had not before applied publicly to his rookie. Addressing media including PlanetF1.com’s Thomas Maher, Wolff expressed frustration over a costly mistake in free practice and an overall lackluster race.
“He can’t put the car in the gravel bed [in FP2] and then to expect to be there. All of the race was underwhelming.
Doesn’t change anything on my support and confidence in his future, because I believe he’s going to be very, very, very good. But, today was underwhelming.” — Toto Wolff, Mercedes Team Principal
Responding ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Antonelli conceded he understood Wolff’s criticism. He highlighted that their relationship involves open and frank communication, allowing for honest feedback.
“I think I pretty understand his comment,”
Antonelli said.
He explained that while his qualifying was solid despite the FP2 error, the difficulties predominantly came during the race, especially on the hard tires where he struggled to find rhythm and made multiple driving mistakes, including an error at the race start. He agreed that his performance “wasn’t the best” but chose to view the critique as motivation to improve.
“But as well, I took it with positive, as fuel to do even better for this race weekend.”
— Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Rookie Driver
Details Behind the Underwhelming Monza Weekend
Antonelli elaborated on the specific areas flagged by Wolff, emphasizing that the main issues occurred during his stint on hard tires. He acknowledged the series of mistakes that led to a loss of valuable race time and cost him the chance to fight for a higher finishing position.
“I was struggling to find my rhythm, and I was trying different things, but I just ended up doing a few mistakes,”
he admitted.
“For sure, he doesn’t want that to happen again.”
The Mercedes team principal has made it clear that Antonelli must prioritize clean race execution if he is to regain the strong form he demonstrated during the early races of the season. The driver confirmed that this message was unambiguous and that he is committed to delivering better results going forward.
Antonelli also mentioned looking forward to the latter part of the season, which takes place outside Europe. He believes a calmer environment and having more time for himself will help him improve his focus and performance.
“So I’m really looking forward to that, and really looking forward to do clean weekends and to get back the momentum, and that’s what the team wants.”
— Kimi Antonelli
Context of Antonelli’s Season and Team Dynamics
Throughout his rookie campaign, Antonelli has been compared frequently to his Mercedes teammate George Russell, with team and media interest focusing on their head-to-head qualifying and race statistics. Despite his recent struggles, the Mercedes management remains optimistic about Antonelli’s future prospects, as evidenced by Wolff’s reaffirmed confidence.
The critical feedback comes as Antonelli prepares for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, hoping to reset after a turbulent European season. With Wolff’s direct guidance and Antonelli’s acknowledgment of where improvements are needed, the young driver aims to stabilize his performances and capitalize on the opportunities ahead.
The ongoing challenges at circuits like Monza underscore the crucial learning curve for rookies in the highly competitive F1 environment. How Antonelli responds to this pivotal moment will likely shape not only his remaining season but also his long-term development within the Mercedes team.
