After the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Mercedes CEO and Team Principal Toto Wolff has revealed more about Kimi Antonelli’s development.
Antonelli finished sixth in the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and has four points finishes in the first five races of 2025.
Wolff’s thoughts on Antonelli’s performances in 2025
Asked about the intense five races and how Antonelli is adapting, Toto Wolff said his young charge is on the right track.
I’m really happy the trajectory is right. There hasn’t been any kamikaze movement.
“He’s been consistently learning over the weekends. He’s been, interestingly, always very fast when it comes to the end of the weekend and it seems to get on top of the car, how to drive the tyres, and it is 100% on target.”
The 18-year-old Italian has already picked up his first fastest lap in F1 in only his third race at the Japanese Grand Prix. This feat has been beaten only by Jacques Villeneuve, Nico Rosberg, Juan Manuel Fangio, Phil Hill and Lewis Hamilton.
Antonelli also came from a poor qualifying position of 16th in Melbourne to finish fourth in treacherous conditions. Those conditions were so treacherous that they even caught out two-time world champion Fernando Alonso.
He also set a quicker best race lap than teammate George Russell in both Japan and Saudi Arabia.
The upcoming race in Miami
Wolff then talked about the upcoming round in Miami which is two weeks from now. Miami also has the added caveat of it being the third track of the season that Antonelli has not driven around before. He said:
“Miami, he doesn’t know Miami, but then from there on, I think we’re going to have a pretty clear picture how this more, let’s say, natural habitat of his, the race tracks, he knows it’s going to impact the performance. But I’m happy.”
Between Miami and the summer break after the Hungarian GP, Antonelli will compete in eight races at eight tracks, seven of which he has experience with. Antonelli also won at four of those seven during his junior career. Two came in F2 last year at the Hungaroring and Silverstone. The other two were during his F4 and FRECA days, when he won at the Red Bull Ring and Spa-Francorchamps.
