At last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix in Monza, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff described his squad’s performance as “underwhelming,” casting doubt on the future prospects of rookie driver Kimi Antonelli. Despite securing points on race day, Antonelli’s struggles continued following a series of on-track incidents, raising concerns about his standing within the team. Wolff’s comments, made during the post-race interview, suggested dissatisfaction with multiple aspects of the team’s dynamics, including the driver’s recent form.
The 19-year-old Antonelli found himself mired in trouble during Friday’s practice session, as he once again slid his W16 car off track into the gravel at Monza. This came just a week after a similar mishap sidelined him from Zandvoort’s practice sessions. While Antonelli managed to recover and finish in the points on Sunday, Wolff reiterated that the expectations for both driver and team remain high.
“All around, there’s never one reason, a combination between the tyres, the chassis, the drivers, all need to go hand in hand and if there’s just one weak link then you are losing and if there’s two or three then you have no chance,”
Wolff said after the race, highlighting the multifaceted challenges Mercedes faces. —Toto Wolff, Mercedes Team Principal
Neither Antonelli nor his teammate George Russell have officially secured contract extensions with Mercedes for the 2026 season. Although speculation suggests Russell’s negotiations are the more prominent issue, Antonelli’s future remains unconfirmed and increasingly uncertain.
Former Champion Rosberg Weighs in on Wolff’s Critical Tone
Former Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, speaking on the Sky Sports F1 podcast, analyzed Wolff’s unusually critical remarks, interpreting them as a worrying indicator for Antonelli’s career. With extensive experience working alongside Wolff, Rosberg is attuned to the subtle signals in the team principal’s communication, and this shift in tone reflects deeper concerns.
Rosberg noted that historically, Wolff maintains a supportive front publicly, especially with young talent, to allow drivers time to develop. The critical comments from Wolff appear to be an intentional departure.
“And so this change of tone from Toto for the first time ever, usually there’s a reason behind it. Toto is very calculated in his comments. Perhaps he’s wanting to put some pressure on Kimi and his family to try a different approach, modify their approach, review their approach.”
—Nico Rosberg, Former F1 World Champion
“But the fact of the matter is that Kimi is a generational talent. We all know that. But it’s more difficult to him than we all thought so far and it’s a bit strange that it’s still so difficult.”
—Nico Rosberg, Former F1 World Champion
“But the clock starts to tick at some point also.”
—Nico Rosberg, Former F1 World Champion
Pressure Mounts as Future with Mercedes Hangs in the Balance
With Wolff’s warnings coming publicly and Rosberg echoing the urgency, Antonelli faces increasing pressure to deliver results amid a challenging debut season. The lack of confirmation for his contract extension heightens the tension surrounding his place at Mercedes, especially as the team aims to remain competitive with its car setup, tyre management, and driver performances all needing to synchronize effectively.
As Mercedes continues to sort out its driver lineup for the coming years, Antonelli’s ability to demonstrate consistency and maturity could be crucial to securing his seat. The team’s future success may depend on identifying the right balance among the key components Wolff highlighted, making each driver’s contribution more critical than ever.
What happens next for Kimi Antonelli will be closely watched across the Formula 1 community, as his trajectory at Mercedes could shape both his career and the team’s fortunes in the seasons ahead.
