Kimi Antonelli must make a big change after Toto Wolff revealed what he ‘didn’t want’ to do in 2025

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Kimi Antonelli showed glimpses of his talents during a turbulent rookie campaign, but Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff has outlined what the 19-year-old must do in order to make a step up next season.

The Mercedes debutant finished seventh overall in the drivers’ standings, just six points off the man whose shoes he filled at Brackley in Lewis Hamilton.

Kimi Antonelli also had several highlights from his maiden campaign in F1, including three consecutive podiums between Mexico City and Sao Paulo, another in Montreal and a Sprint race pole position in Miami.

However, the young Italian also had his fair share of trouble during the season. The European leg of the season was particularly difficult for the Silver Arrow, and Antonelli has been told that his form over those races can’t happen again.

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Toto Wolff shares how Kimi Antonelli’s rookie season was derailed by his inability to say ‘no’ to things

During Mercedes’ end-of-season review, Toto Wolff was asked to reflect on Antonelli’s rookie season and to share whether he was satisfied with the calibre of the results that the young Italian was recording.

The team principal said, “Last year, when we announced that he would drive in the car, I said that we’re going to have ups and downs.

“Moments of brilliance and other moments where you want to clear your hair out because of the, you call them learnings, but because of the mistakes. That’s what it is. And I think we have seen exactly that.

“We’ve seen very strong races at the beginning of the season, and particularly towards the end. But I think we never doubted in the speed, the time and his ability.”

Wolff also highlighted the biggest issue that led to Antonelli’s rut during the European leg of the season, which is something he definitely needs to change in his sophomore campaign.

He added, “It’s just you being thrown to the cannibals in Formula 1. The intense pressure of the media, the responsibility you have to Mercedes, to the many people that are giving their all to provide you an engine and a car.

“And I think, probably, that was the learning throughout the middle of the season, particularly in Europe. Everybody wants something from you. He’s a good person, so he didn’t want to say no either.

“Overall, I would say it has been a good season full of learning, a strong base to move from here, and start in 2026 with a new car, new to everyone, and you know what to expect.”

• READ MORE: Max Verstappen snubs Isack Hadjar as he names the two 2025 rookies with the most ‘potential’

Kimi Antonelli must be more assertive when approached in the Formula 1 paddock

With the compounding growth that F1 is seeing with every passing year, the Formula 1 paddock is becoming more and more littered with VIPs who are interested in catching a selfie or autograph from the star drivers.

Antonelli must learn to start saying no when he is approached by people with different requests, and keep his mind focused on the task at hand.

The round in Azerbaijan marked a turning point for the Italian driver’s struggles, with a fourth-place finish on track marking Antonelli’s best result since his maiden podium in Canada.

Mercedes chief James Allison highlighted how Mercedes had made a critical change to Antonelli’s preparations on race weekends to help him focus on what the Silver Arrows are paying him to do.

It’s clear to see that the 19-year-old has the capabilities of becoming a staple on the F1 grid in the future, and potentially even a world champion in the right car.

Wolff believes that is one of the reasons why Hamilton was so defensive over Antonelli’s troubles during the recently concluded campaign.

At the seven-time world champion’s final race for the Brackley-based team in 2024, he left a note for Antonelli in the Mercedes motorhome that wished him the best for his maiden year.