Toto Wolff’s feelings about loaning out Kimi Antonelli revealed ahead of 2026 contract decision

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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has made a decision on whether to loan out Andrea Kimi Antonelli for the 2026 Formula 1 season.

It’s been a frustrating recent run of results for Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli.

His second homecoming at the Italian Grand Prix was supposed to make up for his mechanical failure at Imola.

However, Antonelli went off in FP2 at Monza, and a poor getaway contributed to only finishing ninth after he picked up a five-second time penalty for his battle with Alex Albon.

Antonelli has now fallen behind Albon in the drivers’ championship, raising questions about whether Toto Wolff should continue with him next season.

George Russell is also waiting to sign a new Mercedes deal, despite his brilliant 2025 campaign.

Russell is concerned about his off-track duties at Mercedes, which might be holding up the announcement of any new deal.

Journalist Jon Noble has now shared Wolff’s feelings about loaning Antonelli, with a perfect landing spot alongside Pierre Gasly at Alpine still open for 2026.

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

Toto Wolff has no interest in loaning out Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli next season

Noble was asked on The Race F1 podcast whether Mercedes are considering loaning Antonelli out and what’s holding up their contracts, and he explained: “No, they’re not, but there is quite an interesting kind of shift of dynamic at Mercedes with Kimi.

“I think the contracts are quite simple. I think they want to get both lined up at the same time.

“They’re kind of going through the final process of contracts. With George, I think it comes down to things like driver appearance days and how many he does and how they’re counted and all those tiny little details that are always the final step of contracts.

“So, you have all the broad stuff that’s quite easy to sort out, but when you get to the details, this is where things get complicated.

“I think that’s what’s holding up both contracts.”

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How Toto Wolff is planning to help Kimi Antonelli ‘turn things around’ after difficult Mercedes spell

Noble continued in his assessment on Antonelli’s recent form and explained: “In terms of Kimi, Toto’s absolutely adamant that he believes Kimi’s the future, that he’s confident he can do it, but I thought it was fascinating at Monza, last weekend, where he labelled Kimi’s performance underwhelming.

“It was the first public criticism of him. Toto doesn’t say these things accidentally; it will have been said on purpose.

“I just wonder if he feels that Kimi’s continuing to make mistakes, continuing not delivering to the full potential and that having wrapped him in cotton wool potentially and being supported through difficult times, maybe it’s time to give him the stick and not the carrot, and perhaps force a bit of a wake-up call and stop him making these errors.

“I think Toto knows he can’t carry on like this. So maybe he feels this is the way to get Kimi to turn things around.”

Wolff’s ‘underwhelming’ assessment of Antonelli was unusual when compared to his treatment of other Mercedes drivers in the past.

Typically, he’s been far more positive with his drivers, although none have arrived at Mercedes with as little experience as the 19-year-old Italian.

Antonelli will be well aware that his current level of performance won’t be good enough if Mercedes are setting their sights on winning both championships next year.

Although his immediate Mercedes future is secured, a lot of contracts expire in 2026, giving Wolff some interesting options to choose from if he does decide to delve into the driver market.