Kimi Antonelli has responded to Toto Wolff’s comments after the Italian Grand Prix, where the Mercedes team principal labelled the 19-year-old’s performance ‘underwhelming’

Kimi Antonelli responded to public criticism from Mercedes boss Toto Wolff(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Kimi Antonelli said he “gets” Toto Wolff’s criticism issued after the Italian Grand Prix, when the Mercedes boss branded the 19-year-old’s home race weekend as ‘underwhelming’. The youngster finished ninth at Monza in his most recent outing, claiming only his third top-10 result from the past 10 races.

For the second successive weekend, Antonelli endured a spin during practice which triggered a red flag, robbing him of crucial track time and leaving him struggling for the rest of the Grand Prix.

The Bologna native then secured seventh on the grid, but dropped towards the edge of the top-10 following a dreadful getaway, before fighting back to claim ninth spot, trailing Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto.

Following the chequered flag, team principal Wolff faced questions about Antonelli’s display and was unusually critical of the youngster. “You cannot put the car in the gravel bed and then expect to be there, and all of the race was underwhelming,” he declared.

“It doesn’t change anything on my support and confidence in his future, because I believe he’s going to be very, very, very good, but today was underwhelming.” Those remarks were presented to Antonelli before this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

“I think I understand his comment,” the Mercedes racer replied. “You know, me and Toto, we’re always very open to each other and we talk to each quite openly. I think it was mainly about the race.

“Qualifying was actually pretty good despite the off in FP2, but then in the race, especially on the hard tyre, struggled a bit and also I did a mistake on the start. So I think it was mainly related to the race. I agree on the comment – [the race] wasn’t the best. But as well, I think I took it with positive as fuel to do better this race weekend.”

With eight rounds of the 2025 campaign left to run, Antonelli finds himself in a tricky position. The 19-year-old now trails Williams driver Alex Albon by four points, after the British-Thai racer secured seventh in the drivers’ championship standings with his fourth top-eight result in five races last time out.

With Mercedes and Ferrari locked in a 20-point battle for runners-up spot in the Constructors’ Championship, Antonelli faces mounting pressure to raise his game before the season concludes in Abu Dhabi. His existing deal runs out in December, though he is anticipated to stay with the squad on a 12-month agreement for 2026.

Antonelli’s future beyond this point remains uncertain. Mercedes are still keen on reigning champion Max Verstappen, who decided not to join the Silver Arrows for the first year of the new technical regulations. However, if Wolff’s team take an early lead in 2026, interest from the Dutchman’s camp will intensify, putting their current rookie under pressure.