What angry Carlos Sainz Sr privately said about Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes crash

Follow us on Google Discover

Kimi Antonelli made his first appearance in an official Formula 1 session at the Italian Grand Prix last weekend. But the new Mercedes signing crashed out within just 10 minutes.

After Toto Wolff let slip that Mercedes would hire Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement, the Silver Arrows confirmed that he’d drive the W15 in FP1 at Monza. On the face of it, the timing was ideal.

The teenager would enjoy a career milestone in front of his home fans, just 24 hours before the team planned their official announcement. But as it turned out, this may have created added pressure.

On his second push lap of the session, Antonelli lost control of his car at Parabolica and spun into the barriers. Team principal Wolff immediately reassured him over the team radio as he apologised.

Martin Brundle called Antonelli the ‘luckiest young driver ever’ given the calm nature of Mercedes’ response. Wolff preferred to focus on ‘how fast he was before he crashed’.

The extensive repairs compromised George Russell’s run plan in the afternoon session. But there was no sign of any frustration from the Brackley outfit.

Carlos Sainz’s father couldn’t believe Mercedes gave Kimi Antonelli a ‘cart blanche’

Speaking on the F1-Insider YouTube channel, journalist Ralf Bach shared what Carlos Sainz’s father had told him following Antonelli’s accident. He was unhappy with the collective response.

He found it ‘crazy’ that Antonelli retained the full ‘support’ of his team after ‘destroying’ his car. In the Spaniard’s eyes, the youngster should have faced some consequences.

Antonelli beat off competition from Sainz to land the seat. They were the only two realistic contenders, with Max Verstappen always more of a dream target for 2025.

Mercedes offered Sainz a one-year deal, but he didn’t want to be a stop-gap while the academy driver developed. He’s now agreed a deal with the struggling Williams team instead as he prepares to leave Ferrari.

“There were people who didn’t think it was that funny,” Bach said. “For example, Carlos Sainz Sr told me that he doesn’t know how he celebrated after he drove a car into the wall in his first Formula 1 practice session.

“He also said it’s crazy that he has this cart blanche to destroy practically everything and still have the support.”

Eddie Jordan says Toto Wolff has already made a mistake with Kimi Antonelli

If Mercedes had signed Sainz, then it’s possible that Antonelli would have landed at Williams. That, in theory, could have earned James Vowles a discount on the power unit he buys from his old team.

Russell previously spent three years at Grove before Mercedes deemed him ready for a promotion. It could have been a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Eddie Jordan says Wolff has already hurt Antonelli by dropping him into a front-running seat too soon. One of the youngest drivers in F1 history will immediately be in a car that could be championship material.

Even Verstappen and Charles Leclerc developed in the midfield for a year or so before joining Red Bull and Ferrari. And to raise the stakes even further, Antonelli has only signed a one-year contract, with Mercedes interested in both McLaren drivers as they assess their options for 2026.