Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the 19-year-old Mercedes junior, has come under fire for his performance at the Monza Grand Prix. Following criticism from Jacques Villeneuve and Nico Rosberg, Toto Wolff has joined the chorus, questioning Antonelli’s recent mistakes.
Wolff’s Disappointment in Antonelli’s Monza Performance
Wolff, Mercedes’ team principal, voiced his concerns about Antonelli’s “too many mistakes” during the race weekend. He called Antonelli’s performance “underwhelming” on ServusTV, a stark departure from his usual support for the young driver. In past interviews, Wolff had shielded Antonelli from public criticism, but this time, he was more direct.
“You can’t put the car in the gravel bed [on Friday] and expect to be there,” Wolff told media outlets after the race. “All of the race was underwhelming.” Wolff emphasized that Antonelli must deliver a “solid weekend” to compete with top drivers like Charles Leclerc and George Russell.
Antonelli’s Struggles at Monza and Penalty for Erratic Driving
Despite his struggles at Monza, Antonelli’s raw speed remains unquestioned. In qualifying, he was just 0.043 seconds off his teammate Russell, after the team reverted to its previous suspension setup. Antonelli’s performance in qualifying showcased his potential, but the race told a different story.
Antonelli began the race from sixth but quickly dropped to 10th after a poor start. “I just went a bit deep with the clutch and got wheelspin straight away, and just lost so many places,” Antonelli said. “That compromised the race because I found myself needing to chase.” His difficulties continued throughout the race, and he struggled to find a consistent rhythm.
The Italian driver eventually finished ninth, but his performance was marred by a penalty for erratic driving. The stewards penalized Antonelli for a dangerous move on Alexander Albon, who was trying to pass him. The ruling stated, “Antonelli moved to the left and squeezed Albon who had two wheels on the grass.” Wolff agreed with the penalty, calling the move “unnecessary” and pointing out that Albon was clearly quicker.
Wolff’s Support for Antonelli’s Future Despite Mistakes
Antonelli’s performance in Monza has drawn attention, especially when compared to his teammate, George Russell, who has dominated him in both qualifying and races. The score now stands at 2-17 in qualifying and 0-19 in races, a lopsided record that mirrors Russell’s dominance back in 2019 when he was at Williams.
Wolff remains confident in Antonelli’s future, despite his struggles. “I believe he’s going to be very, very, very good,” Wolff stated. “But today was underwhelming.” He emphasized that Antonelli’s raw talent and ability are still there but that he needs to “get rid of the ballast of previous races.”
Antonelli himself acknowledged the mistakes and highlighted his improvement in qualifying. “Definitely the qualifying was a step forward. It’s been a bit of a weak point in the past few races,” he said.
Wolff intends to recalibrate Antonelli’s mindset through “talks,” hoping to help him overcome the psychological burden of previous mistakes. A cleaner and more focused approach will be crucial for Antonelli’s future success in Formula 1.
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