Szafnauer backs Wolff's Antonelli gamble as teenager leads standings by 81 points

Kimi Antonelli’s dominant start to his second Formula 1 season has drawn praise for the man who gave him his chance, with former Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer crediting Mercedes boss Toto Wolff for the boldness of the decision. Antonelli currently leads the drivers’ standings by 81 points over team-mate George Russell and has claimed eight grand prix victories.

When Lewis Hamilton left Mercedes for Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season, Wolff faced a straightforward choice: recruit an experienced replacement or promote the team’s teenage protégé. He chose the latter, and the decision drew immediate criticism from voices inside and outside the paddock.

“You’ve got to give Toto credit for taking the risk on Kimi,” Szafnauer said on the High Performance Racing podcast. “And also Gwen [Lagrue]. He discovered him.”

Wolff himself was unambiguous about what Antonelli’s maiden win — secured in China — meant in that context. Over team radio after the chequered flag in Shanghai, he delivered a pointed message: “‘He’s too young. We shouldn’t put him in a Mercedes. Put him in a smaller team. He needs the experience. Look at the mistakes he makes.’ Here we go, Kimi. Victory.”

Speaking to media after the race, Wolff expanded on the sentiment while urging caution. “When things go bad, there are people who come out and say, ‘That was a bad decision,’ and ‘Mercedes took too much risk,’” he said. “There were many voices within the sport and outside that said, ‘That was a mistake to do.’ So it’s nice to have a little revanche. But obviously, it’s one race win.”

Wolff was careful not to let the vindication run away with itself. “This sport that we live in is manic depressive,” he added. “Today, it’s great. In two weeks, we are in Japan, and he puts it in the wall, and people say he’s too young. So I think we need to just keep the feet on the ground.”

The caution is understandable, but the numbers tell a compelling story. An 81-point lead and eight wins into his second season, Antonelli has moved well beyond the stage where the debate centres on whether Wolff made the right call.