Wolff Praises Antonelli's "Strong" Sao Paulo Performance Amidst Verstappen Challenge

Toto Wolff believes Kimi Antonelli's impressive performance at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, particularly fending off Max Verstappen, offers a clear glimpse of the young Italian's future potential in Formula 1. Antonelli, 19, delivered his strongest weekend of his rookie season at Interlagos, securing second place in both the Sprint and Grand Prix, notably holding off a charging Verstappen in the main race.

Why it matters:

After a challenging mid-season slump, Antonelli's resurgent form at unfamiliar circuits is a crucial indicator of his adaptability and resilience. Mercedes' decision to fast-track him into F1 to replace Lewis Hamilton carries immense pressure, and strong performances like this validate the team's faith and suggest he is beginning to harness his prodigious talent.

The details:

• Antonelli, driving at Interlagos for the first time, qualified and finished second behind Lando Norris in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix.
• His most notable feat was successfully defending against Max Verstappen in the closing laps of Sunday's main race, despite Verstappen being on newer, softer tires.
• Wolff's Assessment: Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff highlighted the performance, stating, "All weekend, it was strong from the get-go. It's good to see... The execution was faultless at the end. Being able to fend off, fight off Max on a newer and softer tyre, that was really strong and a testament of what's to come."
• Mid-Season Struggles: Antonelli's season began strongly with five top-six finishes in his first six races, including a podium in Canada. However, his form dipped significantly in the subsequent European races, scoring only two points over six events, with Wolff describing his Monza showing as "underwhelming."
• Resurgence on Flyaways: Since leaving Europe for the end-of-season flyaway races – predominantly on tracks he had not raced before – Antonelli's results have improved, with top-six finishes in Azerbaijan, Singapore, and Mexico preceding his podium in Brazil.
• Managing Expectations: Wolff attributed the European slump to the pressure of familiar tracks where Antonelli had high personal expectations. He suggested that racing on unknown circuits reduced this pressure, allowing him to perform more freely. "Coming to a track that you don't know is almost like less pressure. Your expectations are lower, everybody else's expectations are lower."

What's next:

While Antonelli's development is expected to have further ups and downs, Wolff sees clear signs of maturity. The focus for next season will be on him applying this learning to tracks he now knows without the burden of past expectations.

• Wolff anticipates that Antonelli will approach familiar tracks next year with a more measured outlook, emphasizing that 2025 is still a crucial learning year.
• His performance in Brazil is viewed as a significant "up" in his journey, with further challenges anticipated.
• Wolff concluded, "I think we're seeing the young boy becoming a young man and then performing."