Red Bull receives stern criticism as Mercedes example highlighted

Red Bull's handling of young drivers has been criticised by Davide Valsecchi, after Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli took a maiden F1 podium. 

After a bright start to his career as Lewis Hamilton's replacement, including fourth on debut in Australia, fastest lap in Japan and Sprint race pole in Miami, Antonelli's form wavered over the second triple-header, not scoring any points across Imola-Monaco-Spain, although that run was bookended by two car failures.

In Montreal, Antonelli scooped a first F1 podium, the first for an Italian since Jarno Trulli at the 2009 Japanese Grand Prix, when Antonelli was three years old.

Mercedes has protected Antonelli through his rookie season thus far, and even when he crashed at Monza in 2024 on his FP1 debut, leaving the car looking like a "Lego box", according to Toto Wolff.

In contrast, Red Bull has earned a reputation of burning young drivers at the senior team, with Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson, and now Yuki Tsunoda all struggling at the senior team during their spells.

It was something 2013 GP2 champion Valsecchi picked up on. 

"I am very happy for Kimi, he even managed to match George Russel's lap times for a long time during the race. 

"We should be grateful to Mercedes, for the way they work with Antonelli, they know how to manage the pressure on him well, and that's the best way for a future champion, or at least a future top driver.

"I think that's really very clever of Mercedes, especially if you look at how Red Bull occasionally puts pressure on their drivers.

"You can do that with someone like Max Verstappen or Fernando Alonso, but not with another driver at a young age. You have to give those guys stability, give them confidence, and that's what Mercedes did with Antonelli. 

"They took a risk to put him directly in the Mercedes, but they gave him confidence and stability, and we are already seeing the result of that."

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Comparison to Jannik Sinner

The driver-turned-pundit Valsecchi also pointed to fellow Italian Jannik Sinner as evidence for what Antonelli can turn into. 

Sinner has emerged as one of the next generation of male Tennis players after the Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray era ended, recently playing out an all-time classic in the French Open final against Carlos Alcaraz, another of the next generation. 

Valsecchi believes Antonelli has the "best" boss to learn from under Wolff.

"Toto is the best team boss for young drivers, in my opinion. He showed that with the choice of Antonelli, especially when Antonelli crashed the car during free practice at Monza.

"Wolff immediately said: 'No problem, that boy will just drive for me next year'. 

"That shows something, and after 10 races in Formula 1, Antonelli is already on the podium. I don't want to be too positive, but I must say that I just feel something good.

"After all, I think Kimi is taking the right steps forward now, just as Jannik Sinner has done over the years to work his way to the top step by step.

"With time, the same will happen with Kimi, step by step, he advantage of time on his side and in Canada so far he drove one of his best races and at exactly the right time. 

"That often means something when a driver is there at the right time."