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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed that rival teams questioned whether Andrea Kimi Antonelli even deserved a place on the Formula 1 grid during his challenging rookie campaign. Ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix, the Austrian reflected on the toughest moments faced by the Italian prodigy, who, at just 20 years old, now stands on the brink of capturing the world championship.
Just twelve months on, Antonelli's fortunes have undergone a stunning transformation. His victory in Austin marked his ninth triumph of the season, and he arrives at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez with 365 points—holding a commanding 123-point lead over teammate George Russell. That means securing just two points in Sunday's race will be enough to seal the drivers' crown.
Tears at Spa and paddock scrutiny
Wolff highlighted the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix as the lowest point of the youngster's career. Then aged 18, Antonelli suffered a shock Q1 elimination to start from 18th on the grid, fighting back tears before facing the media. The team boss acknowledged that Mercedes got their approach completely wrong during that Sprint weekend, admitting their preparation was unacceptable, particularly for a rookie.
According to Wolff, criticism poured in from all sides amid a barren run of nine consecutive races without a single point.
"Many were saying last year that he didn't belong at Mercedes. There were people from other teams who felt he shouldn't be in Formula 1 at all. I still remember the tears at Spa in parc fermé. Against that backdrop, it's incredibly satisfying to see how he's performing now, the way he's gelled with the team and with Bono [race engineer Peter Bonnington], and the results he is delivering," Wolff said.
The Mercedes boss admits he cannot fully explain the dramatic step forward over the winter. He suggests the arrival of new technical regulations helped level the playing field, whereas Antonelli's debut season required him to adapt to machinery that had undergone four years of continuous development.
A conversation ahead of the United States Grand Prix highlighted the young driver's maturity. Before suiting up in Austin, Antonelli told Wolff that he simply intended to go out, enjoy himself, and not dwell on championship pressure. The Austrian told him that was precisely the right mindset, reminding him that he has the best job in the world.
A remarkable turnaround in numbers
The statistics underscore Antonelli's dramatic resurgence. After ending his debut season seventh in the standings with half the points tally of Russell, he has won half of the 18 races held so far this year—including a sensational victory from the back of the grid at Monza.
Should he wrap up the title, the Italian will make history as Formula 1's youngest-ever world champion. However, Antonelli insists his goal in Mexico is not merely to pick up safe points, but to win in style and finish the campaign on a high.
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