Former Formula 1 champion Nico Rosberg has responded to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff’s recent critical remarks about rookie driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, suggesting that Wolff’s tone signals rising pressure behind the scenes. Rosberg pointed out that Wolff is typically deliberate with his words, indicating a deeper motive related to Antonelli’s performance challenges in his debut season.
Mixed Results Define Antonelli’s Rookie Campaign at Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, currently racing for Mercedes, has delivered some promising moments in his first year, including achieving pole position for the Miami sprint race and securing his maiden F1 podium with a third-place finish at the Canadian Grand Prix. Despite these successes, the young Italian has also faced difficulties that have tempered expectations.
After a disappointing ninth-place finish at the Italian Grand Prix, Wolff described the weekend as “underwhelming,” signaling a shift in his usually supportive tone toward the driver.
Underwhelming this weekend. Underwhelming. You can’t put the car in the gravel bed and expect to be there. All of the race was underwhelming. It 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,
Wolff explained.
Rosberg Surprised by Wolff’s Change in Public Criticism
Rosberg expressed surprise at Wolff’s sudden public critique, emphasizing that, in his view, Antonelli needs steady support rather than external pressure at this stage. Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Show podcast, Rosberg noted the importance of patience and discretion when nurturing young talent.
It’s a surprising one, because at the moment, the only choice you really have is to just give Kimi the most time possible in the most calm way possible, and that means also not criticising him publicly,
Rosberg said.
He speculated that Wolff’s unusual approach might be an intentional effort to prompt Antonelli and his family to reconsider their methods or adapt their strategy to improve results.
Challenges Faced by Antonelli Compared to Teammate George Russell
Rosberg acknowledged Antonelli’s exceptional potential, describing him as a generational talent. However, he highlighted the difficulties the rookie is encountering relative to his teammate George Russell, who has consistently outperformed him on the track.
Statistical comparisons demonstrate this struggle, with Rosberg pointing out that in racing metrics, Russell leads 19-0, and in qualifying sessions, Russell is ahead 17-2. Factoring in driver errors further tilts the scale heavily in Russell’s favor.
It’s a really hard one, an unfortunate one, because we all want him to go well, he can go well, we know that. But the clock starts to tick at some point also, it’s a tough one.
Rosberg Advocates Continued Support for Antonelli’s Development
Emphasizing the importance of maintaining Antonelli’s confidence, Rosberg recommended that Mercedes extend support through contractual security, allowing the driver to grow without added pressure. He suggested that any tough decisions could be deferred until the off-season.
Give him the contract, because you need to give him whatever you can at the moment, just to help him with his confidence. Anyway, in F1, you know that worst, worst case, you can still get out of that then during the winter. Obviously you don’t have to say that now, but I would also consider that.
Rosberg’s stance underscores the delicate balance teams face in developing promising young drivers while managing performance expectations during highly competitive seasons.
