Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has described Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s FP1 performance at the Italian Grand Prix as “astonishing” despite the young driver’s 45G crash that cut his session short. Antonelli, who is widely tipped to step into a full-time Formula 1 seat with Mercedes in 2025, was making his much-anticipated debut during the first practice session at Monza.
The 18-year-old Italian was showing promise on his second timed run when he lost control of the car going into the Parabolica corner, resulting in a heavy impact with the barriers. Despite the crash, Wolff emphasized that the team was more focused on Antonelli’s quick adaptation and potential rather than the incident itself.
“First and foremost, we’re relieved that he’s okay after such a significant impact,” Wolff told the media. “The crash was substantial, but the most important thing is that he’s uninjured. Our second priority is getting the car ready for George [Russell] so that our program for the weekend isn’t too disrupted.”
Wolff was keen to highlight that the team expected Antonelli to make mistakes as part of his learning curve, particularly given his inexperience at this level. “He’s a rookie, very young, and we’re prepared to invest in his future. These kinds of moments are part of that process. What’s more important is that he was showing remarkable pace before the incident,” Wolff added.
The team principal acknowledged that the challenging track conditions, including the high temperatures at Monza, likely contributed to Antonelli losing control. “He was carrying a lot of speed, and the rear of the car just stepped out. It’s something that can happen, especially in such demanding conditions,” Wolff explained.
Despite the crash, Wolff made it clear that the incident would not affect Mercedes’ long-term plans for Antonelli. “This will have zero impact on his chances for a future in Formula 1 with us. The most important thing is his ability and potential, which he has in abundance. An FP1 session gone wrong is not a reason to lose faith in a driver’s future.”
As Antonelli continues to balance his Formula 2 commitments with F1 testing, his path to a potential Mercedes drive in 2025 remains on track. The team appears committed to nurturing his talent, understanding that setbacks like this are part of the development process for any young driver.
