Toto Wolff Defends Kimi Antonelli, Citing Max Verstappen's Early Career

Why it matters: Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has reaffirmed his confidence in junior driver Kimi Antonelli, despite the 18-year-old's recent difficulties in junior categories. Wolff drew parallels to Max Verstappen's early F1 career, highlighting the immense pressure on young talents.

The big picture:

• Antonelli, widely seen as a future F1 star and a potential replacement for Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, has scored points only twice in his last nine races, including one podium.
• He admitted losing confidence in his car since the season began.

Wolff's defense: Wolff stressed that "all the big ones make mistakes," defending Antonelli's current struggles. He noted that Verstappen, who also debuted as a teenager, had a "different environment" at Toro Rosso but still made significant errors early on.

Greater pressure: Wolff suggested Antonelli faces even more pressure than Verstappen did a decade ago, being "thrown in this mammoth of a team representing Mercedes."

What's next: Wolff reiterated his "100 per cent belief" in Antonelli for the long term, viewing his current challenges as "just part of the learning" process for a driver expected to step into a competitive F1 seat.