Toto Wolff told he needs to stop saying one thing putting ‘undue pressure’ on Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli

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Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli appears to be getting better and better every time he steps into a Formula 1 car.

On his Formula 1 debut, Kimi Antonelli made up 12 positions in incredibly tough conditions at the Australian Grand Prix, immediately demonstrating his talent.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff will feel increasingly justified in replacing seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton with the Italian rookie.

Antonelli’s pole position in the Sprint Race in Miami took everyone at Mercedes by surprise, and while he couldn’t convert it into his first win, it demonstrated that George Russell’s current advantage might not last for long.

The Italian teenager became the third-youngest driver of all time to finish on the podium at the Canadian Grand Prix behind Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll.

Those two drivers have had very different career trajectories, and Antonelli will hope he’s able to emulate the four-time Red Bull champion in the future.

F1 pundit James Hinchcliffe was speaking about Antonelli and his rapid rise through the ranks to Formula 1.

He believes that Mercedes have done a phenomenal job, but has urged Wolff to stop comparing his newest star to Verstappen.

READ MORE: Know all about 2025 Mercedes F1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli including stats

Toto Wolff told to stop comparing Andrea Kimi Antonelli to Max Verstappen

Hinchcliffe was speaking about the 18-year-old on the Drive to Wynn Podcast and explained: “I think Mercedes have done a very good job and a very conscious job of trying to insulate Kimi a little bit because he did come in with so much hype.

“He did come in replacing arguably one of the greatest that’s ever done it.

“A seven-time champion with Lewis Hamilton, and they could have let him run off with way more media commitments and sponsor commitments, but they made a very concerted effort to kind of keep him a little more focused on the job at hand and let him learn.

“You compare it to say, like an Isack Hadjar who came into Racing Bulls.

“He didn’t win the F2 championship, just he probably had less fanfare around him than anyone else.

“He came into a midfieldish team and was allowed to sort of learn and not really have too much spotlight on him in comparison to Kimi jumping into one of the top teams alongside one of the top drivers being touted as the next Max Verstappen by Toto Wolff every chance he got.

“Something that he should probably stop saying, this puts a lot of undue pressure on the kid.

“I think his Mercedes family has helped kind of control the narrative well and his schedule well.”

READ MORE: All you need to know about Mercedes F1 CEO and team principal Toto Wolff

Could Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen end up as Mercedes teammates?

Plenty of young drivers over the years have been compared to Formula 1’s best drivers, but very few ever live up to those expectations.

Antonelli has a long way to go before he’s in Verstappen’s league, but the Dutchman has been very complimentary about his Mercedes rival.

After they shared the podium in Canada, he said in his official press conference: “For me, it’s not a surprise. I knew Kimi coming up through the karting ranks – people were already saying great things.

“So I was keeping an eye on him. I think what’s impressive is he’s naturally quick. What I like is his level-headed, calm approach.

“Those are great qualities to have. I was never in doubt that the podium would come this year.”

Mercedes have been linked with signing Verstappen as Wolff has been desperate to work with the Dutchman for some time.

Verstappen has a get-out clause in his Red Bull contract, but the likelihood of him activating it looks very low at this stage.

If he were to decide to join Mercedes, there’s a good chance he would be partnered with Antonelli, and this would give Wolff the perfect opportunity to truly compare the two drivers.