Mercedes, a winning bet
After objectively difficult years during the ground-effect Formula 1 era, Mercedes has returned to the top of the sport, finding a potential young champion already at home. What is certain is that if there is one person who is not surprised by the exploits of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, it is Toto Wolff, who last season strongly defended the choice to bet on the 19-year-old Italian to fill the void – at least in terms of personality and the sporting significance of the partnership – left by the departure of Lewis Hamilton.
Read more Jack Doohan returns to racing: debut soon in the European Le Mans Series
Toto Wolff and Kimi Antonelli’s title chances
Yet, now that the talent from Bologna is leading the standings, the team principal is inevitably trying to protect his protégé from media pressure that would otherwise be difficult to sustain. “Now they will ask him in the press conference if he can win the championship – explains Toto Wolff, speaking about Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s lead in the World Championship, achieved after two consecutive victories in Shanghai and Suzuka – but they shouldn’t. He has only achieved two successes so far, but there are still 19 races left until the end of the season and there is plenty of time to win but also to lose. Antonelli must continue to do a good job”.
Read more Vettel’s new challenge: he will run the London Marathon
The Mercedes team principal, however, is obviously gloating when thinking back to the many criticisms received last season when it seemed that Antonelli, after an excellent start to the championship – especially memorable was his exploit in the rain in Melbourne but also the good tire management shown in the Suzuka race – then struggled quite a bit, especially on European tracks, which he knew much better. Nevertheless, the Austrian manager sets limits on his willingness to overcommit regarding the internal battle in his garage: “We will only be able to talk about the championship in Abu Dhabi, and there is still a long way to go before then. As of now, nothing has really happened yet, and we haven’t even completed 20% of the season”, concluded Toto Wolff, speaking about Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s lead in the F1 world championship.
