Wolff Backs Antonelli Amid F1 Title Challenge

From Siti Radziah Hamzah

SINGAPORE, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One (F1) team principal and chief executive Toto Wolff has reaffirmed his confidence in Kimi Antonelli, saying the team had always anticipated moments of brilliance and setbacks as part of the young Italian driver's development.

Antonelli, 20, has emerged as a leading contender for the 2026 drivers' title, having won eight of the season's 16 races and established an 84-point advantage over teammate George Russell ahead of this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix.

Wolff said Mercedes expected Antonelli to have periods of strong performance as well as difficulties, but remained committed to his long-term development.

He said the team identified Antonelli's potential when he was just 11 years old and has since supported his development as both a driver and an individual.

"We helped him to grow as a driver but also nurture his personality and make him what he is today. Not without bumps. Because last year, he had a scale of nine races without any points. In any other team, that probably would have meant he had to leave the team.

"And with us, we knew that's going to happen. It was always the expectations, moments of brilliance and moments of failure. Because failure is life and it's necessary," he said during a fireside chat organised by Signify here on Thursday.

Wolff said nurturing young talent required organisations to provide opportunities and trust while retaining experienced personnel who could guide the next generation.

Drawing on his own experience, he recalled being denied an opportunity to assume greater responsibility at an industrial steel company when he was 22, despite being the only salesperson left in a department of about 30 people.

He said the lack of trust and opportunity had been disappointing and eventually prompted him to leave the company.

"So, I very much support the fact of young people coming up. But Kimi is a good example. Kimi and George," he said.

Meanwhile, asked how Mercedes would maintain Antonelli's motivation following his achievements, Wolff said the young driver remained determined to pursue the ultimate prize in F1.

"I think in terms of hunger, he's so hungry. And, you know, the truth is, what has he achieved? He's a multiple Grand Prix winner, and that is already very good. It places him among many others, a few others.

"But winning a championship is truly what you aim for as a driver. And once you have won, obviously you want to repeat it. And I think if one thing he's not missing, then it's the hunger," said Wolff.

On the competitive dynamic between Antonelli and Russell, Wolff said both drivers remained highly motivated to win world championships, although the latter had experienced difficulties with the car and mechanical reliability this season.

"The dynamic with George is an interesting one, because George, very much like Kimi, is absolutely motivated and hungry to win championships as well. It hasn't worked for him so far this season, because there were a few races that he wasn't really happy with the car, and then a few races that we let him down

“You know, Kimi had a DNF, but George had more of them," he added.

Russell is set to start Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix from the back of the grid following a power-unit failure at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia last weekend and a subsequent grid penalty.

Wolff acknowledged that pushing technological boundaries carried the risk of mechanical failures, but believed overcoming such challenges would make Russell stronger over the medium to long term.

-- BERNAMA