Toto Wolff addresses 'legend' F1 pressure on Kimi Antonelli

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has warned there was unnecessary pressure placed on Kimi Antonelli's shoulders by Italians after his strong performances early in the campaign.

Antonelli joined Mercedes this year in place of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, who departed for Ferrari.

The 18-year-old's early-season successes at Mercedes included a sprint pole position in Miami and a podium finish in Canada.

However, in the European leg of the season, Antonelli endured a difficult run of form, with point-scoring results a rarity.

Antonelli was retained for the 2026 campaign alongside George Russell despite the challenging year as Wolff asserted he never lost faith in the rookie's abilities. 

“No, I was always confident it's going to get the grip, the necessary grip,” Wolff told media including RacingNews365.

“That’s why it was always clear that Kimi was going to stay with us next year also, there was no doubt.

“With these complicated cars, the management of the tyres during them is something that you need to learn.

“In that respect, that's a great result. One of the good days, many more difficult [days] but there was never a single moment of doubt in how he's coming.”

Antonelli is largely seen as a long-term project for the Mercedes squad, having been part of the junior team for several years.

Wolff asserted he has been encouraged by the performances Antonelli has been able to produce, but conceded some opinions formed earlier this year were too extreme.

“I always tried to dampen the expectations on him,” he said.

“The Italians talked about the legend Kimi Antonelli after Montreal and after the Miami pole, and that's an additional pressure.

“So let's keep both feet on the ground. He defended second from Max [in Brazil], that was very impressive, but we want to win races and championships”