Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff suggests lower expectations at recent F1 Grands Prix have allowed Kimi Antonelli to perform to a higher level, following strong performance in São Paulo.
Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli has enjoyed a strong run of form in recent Grands Prix. Having outperformed his more experienced teammate in both São Paulo and Mexico City, Antonelli secured his 2nd career podium last weekend in São Paulo.
In the wake of his recent uptick in performance, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was asked about the apparent gap in performance when compared to circuits the young rookie is familiar with. Reflecting on his comparable struggles in Europe, Wolff hypothesised the pressure of racing on familiar tracks played a role.
“I think all weekend [Antonelli] was strong, from the get-go,” Wolff recalled when speaking after the Grand Prix. “It’s good to see. Maybe it was coming to a track that he didn’t know. It’s a bit easier.
“Expectations are maybe lower. Maybe pressure is not as high as some of the Europeans and then the execution was faultless at the end. You know, being able to fend off Max on a newer and softer tyre, well, that was really strong and testament to what’s to come.”
Expanding on his theory, Wolff explained the internal pressure to perform on familiar tracks must be immense. He also suggested that racing at tracks new removes pressure on many levels as he is starting from scratch. Wolff says lower pressure has allowed the rookie to thrive in recent Grand Prix.
“I think it’s also managing his own expectations,” he continued. “He’s so young, he’s just 19 years old, you come to a track where you know that you’ve performed very well in the past, some of the European ones. Then on the back foot you have a sensational team mate that is as good as it gets. I think coming to a track that you don’t know is almost like less pressure.
“Your expectations are lower, everybody else’s expectations are lower, the kind of fan pressure is less than on some of the European tracks, and I think that plays a big role.”
Wolff was then asked if he believes the pressure of familiar tracks was the key to Antonelli’s earlier struggles. Backing his driver, Wolff explained that mixed performances were to be expected of Antonelli in his rookie season.
Looking ahead, Wolff expects Antonelli to keep a more level head next season. He explained that the rookie would take 2025 as a “learning year” heading into his 2nd season in F1.
“I think it’s a development,” he explained. “Next year he will come to these tracks that he knows without expecting to kill it. That’s the learning year, the year that we always expected to come with all the ups and downs.
“Today is an up, definitely a good moment, and there will be more difficult ones. Let’s see the next three races. I think we’re seeing the young boy becoming a young man, and performing.”
