Wolff insisted the young Italian remains central to the team’s long-term plans.
Mercedes confirmed earlier this month that both George Russell and Antonelli would remain with the team for 2026, extending the teenager’s stay for a second season. Wolff explained that keeping the same line-up was always part of Mercedes’ vision.
“It was always the decision we took from the get-go,” Wolff said. “George can take the leadership role, and Kimi is in a learning year. Going forward, it was pretty much a no-brainer.”
Antonelli, only 19, stepped into Lewis Hamilton’s former seat at the start of 2025 and has endured a steep learning curve in his rookie season. The Italian has scored just three points across all nine European rounds, while Russell has carried the team’s challenge near the front of the grid.
Despite the difficult debut, Wolff has insisted he has never questioned Antonelli’s ability. “Never,” he said firmly. “When you look at his junior record and his personality, there’s no doubt within the team that we made the right decision in giving him this opportunity.”
Wolff pointed out that Antonelli’s transition into Formula 1 was made tougher by the spotlight of national expectation. “If you’re parachuted into a leading team and your teammate is fighting for wins, there’s tremendous pressure,” he added. “You add that he’s Italian, and Italy has been starved of top drivers for a while, so that plays a role too.”
With only five races remaining, Wolff said Mercedes’ focus is on giving Antonelli the time to adapt and prepare for next season’s all-new cars. “It’s still a learning season,” he stated. “There were tracks he didn’t know, like Austin, but by next year he’ll have that experience, and the reset with new cars will help him start fresh.”
Formula 1 now heads to the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, where drivers will tackle 71 laps of the 4.304-kilometre Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit.
