Kimi Antonelli has been delivering more consistent performances through the 2026 Formula 1 season, and Toto Wolff believes that the experience gained during his debut year was crucial to this improvement. The Mercedes boss revisited the difficulties the young driver faced in 2025 and highlighted how he managed to adapt to the sport’s demands.
In the previous season, Antonelli endured challenging moments, particularly during the European phase of the championship, when he often struggled to accumulate points. According to Wolff, arriving in the pinnacle of motorsport at such a young age carried significant weight in that scenario.
“I think last year… let me put it differently: he was 18 years old. You are thrown into this monster called Formula 1 under everyone’s scrutiny, in a team capable of winning races, and I believe the pressure is enormous. It was almost as if a young man stood before the headlights of a car, discovering what all of it was about. And then came the avalanche of interest and requests when we returned to Europe, and I think that was simply too much,” he said.
