Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff insists there was one reason why it was never a risk in replacing seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton with Formula 1 rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
That reason, he said, is George Russell.
Both Russell and Antonelli were announced as continuing as Mercedes teammates for 2026 ahead of this weekend’s United States Grand Prix, ending a summer of speculation as to whether Wolff would aim to freshen up his pairing heading into the new regulations.
Instead, the team reaffirmed its commitment to Russell – who has won two grands prix this season – and Antonelli, who has endured a roller coaster first year in F1.
Having flirted for more than a year with the idea of attempting to attract world champion Max Verstappen to jump ship from Red Bull, Wolff now has his duo in place for 2026 – and he was quick to praise Russell for emerging from the long shadow of Hamilton, who left for rivals Ferrari having won six of his drivers’ titles with the Silver Arrows.
“First of all, I think there was so much hype around Lewis leaving and that Kimi would come in, and the risk that we were taking, but as a matter of fact, there was not so much risk because we had George.” Wolff told the Autosport Business Exchange: New York.
“In a way, he was always under-rated in all of those years. Maybe because of his more introverted personality. Then obviously if your teammate is Lewis Hamilton, you won’t get a lot of, how can I say, the reach of eyeballs.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photo by: Clive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images
“I mean, if George would have kind of bought into the fashion style of Lewis, maybe it would have given him more photos, but that’s not how he is!”
While Russell set about showing why he is considered one of the best drivers of the current crop – he remains the only person other than McLaren pair Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, as well as Verstappen, to win a grand prix in 2025 – Antonelli caught the eye for good and for bad.
“It was always good to know that we had George as one of the best drivers and then bringing Kimi on was a long-term plan. We knew that giving him one year in the current regulations would be tough because all of these drivers have driven those ground effect cars,” explained Wolff as he addressed the 200 guests of ABX:NYC at the Classic Car Club in Manhattan.
“The tyres are very tricky to understand. Many racetracks that he hasn’t been to before and then the enormous media pressure that comes when you’re an Italian – this country has been starved for a world champion for 50, 60 years.
“All of that has happened, all of that led to good results. I think the highlight was certainly the pole in the sprint in Miami and the podium in Montreal – but also to some very difficult races.”
The spotlight on such a young talent, cutting his teeth in front of the watching F1 audience, was always going to take some sort of toll, but Wolff is adamant a stronger Antonelli will line up on the grid in Melbourne next year.
“The media pressure was enormous in Europe. And I think we’ve learned the lesson, we’ve shielded him a little bit,” he added.
“The last two races were really good back on track. And next year is going to be a completely different starting point for him, having seen it all and being there. I’m sure it is going to be a very good one.”
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– The Autosport.com Team
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