Toto Wolff urges Italian media to not put pressure on Mercedes prodigy Kimi Antonelli

Toto Wolff backed the prodigy Kimi Antonelli after he crashed out in the FP1 session and asked the media to not hurl hate towards the latter.

Toto Wolff urges Italian media to not put pressure on Mercedes prodigy Kimi Antonelli

Toto Wolff (L), Kimi Antonelli (R) (images via IMAGO)

The entire Mercedes crew and the Italian crowd had high hopes for the prodigy Kimi Antonelli for his FP1 outing. Antonelli was driving around the circuit in George Russell‘s W15 chassis. The Italian driver, however, crashed out ten minutes into the session. Hence, Toto Wolff sided with the 18-year-old and asked the media to not pressurize him.

Kimi Antonelli‘s FP1 session came to an abrupt end within just one and a half laps. Toto Wolff claimed that he was doing everything possible to make the prodigy take test days. Additionally, the team principal noted that Antonelli had the talent, intelligence, and ability to perform well in the pinnacle of motorsport.

I think Kimi is ready. We are doing everything possible to make him take test days. We are not sitting with him in the car. It is he who must do it. He has the talent, intelligence, ability, everything to do it well.
Toto Wolff told BBC
YouTube video

Apart from this, Wolff claimed that George Russell was a formidable driver and had a lot of experience. Hence, there was no basis for a comparison between the two. The Austrian believed that the two couldn’t perform similarly in Formula 1 just yet. Hence, the team boss claimed that it was necessary to ensure that the Italian media didn’t become too harsh on the Italian driver.

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George is a formidable driver, one of the best. An eighteen-year-old cannot be expected to sit in the car and beat him. It won't happen. It's impossible. And that's why we have to make sure that the press, especially in Italy, does not put too much pressure on it.
Toto Wolff added
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Max Verstappen, Helmut Marko and Christian Horner (via IMAGO)

Toto Wolff claimed Kimi Antonelli needed an ‘ideal ecosystem’ at Mercedes to learn and grow

Lewis Hamilton had previously commented that Kimi Antonelli would have a great environment to be nurtured at Mercedes. Hence, even Toto Wolff believed that the prodigy needed an ideal ecosystem in the team. Antonelli needed to learn and grow while participating in Formula 1. Wolff further claimed that young drivers needed time to perform well.

We must ensure an ideal ecosystem within which he can learn and grow. Young drivers must be given time. 
Toto Wolff noted
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Andrea Kimi Antonelli (via IMAGO)

Mercedes’ recent upturn in performance would favor great chances of an impressive result from Kimi Antonelli. The German carmaker needs to finalize the second driver for the coming season alongside George Russell. The Brackley-based team is eyeing confirming the prodigy in the second seat as per multiple sources.

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