Mercedes’ Antonelli F1 gamble is now paying off - Wolff

Toto Wolff insists Mercedes is reaping the rewards for taking the “risk” of promoting Andrea Kimi Antonelli into a Formula 1 race seat after the 18-year-old took pole position for the Miami sprint race.

Antonelli has never raced in Miami before but quickly settled into the circuit and was at the head of the field for Saturday’s sprint race, becoming the youngest driver to take any format of pole position in F1 history.

Replacing seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton with a teenage rookie for the 2025 season raised plenty of eyebrows, especially when Antonelli crashed out at Monza last year in his first free practice outing for Mercedes.

Now though, having already scored 38 points, Antonelli has taken the next step by securing pole ahead of the McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

“There were a lot of voices, even within the sport, suggesting he should have a preparation year at Williams or somewhere similar,” Mercedes team principal Wolff told ServusTV.

“But for us it was clear: we wanted to give him that year of preparation within our own team, so that he’d be ready for next year when the new regulations come in and he already knows all the circuits.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

“We were willing to take that risk even if it meant mistakes. And now we’re being rewarded for our courage. We always said there would be mistakes. But he’s kept developing steadily and hasn’t made those errors, though they will come at some point. But the mileage he’s put in is now paying off, and that’s what’s allowing him to perform at this level.”

Antonelli has been closely associated with Mercedes since 2019, so Wolff has seen the Italian develop at close quarters.

“This young guy – just a few years ago, he was standing next to me in the garage, eyes wide, taking it all in,” he added.

“It feels like that was only yesterday. And now, the speed he’s showing is incredible. He doesn't even know the track yet, this was the next big step. It may only be a ‘mini pole’, but you’ve got to take it when it comes.

“I told the cheering crowd in the garage right away: ‘Okay, enough celebration. This is a sprint qualifying pole, great, but now the work begins for tomorrow. Let's make sure we can replicate that performance in proper qualifying and for Sunday’s race’.”