Wolff reveals two sponsors quit Mercedes over Antonelli promotion before his title triumph

Two Mercedes sponsors withdrew their backing after Toto Wolff committed to promoting Kimi Antonelli into Formula 1 for 2025, the team principal has revealed — a gamble that paid off when the Italian clinched the world championship in only his second season in the sport.

“We had two sponsors who left us because of it. They asked me: ‘Kimi Antonelli, who is this kid supposed to be?’” Wolff told Sky Sports. “And there were others who have stayed with us to this day, and they are now reaping the rewards.”

Wolff says his mind was made up the moment Lewis Hamilton confirmed he was leaving for Ferrari. “When Lewis stood at my door that morning, everything was already clear to me. The moment he confirmed that he was going to Ferrari, I knew Kimi would be in the car,” he said. He recalls informing deputy team principal Bradley Lord and technical director James Allison shortly afterwards, with both initially taken aback. “They just said: ‘What are you talking about?’ But we had the data. We didn’t need any more confirmation.”

The conviction was not widely shared at the time. Throughout the summer of 2024, Max Verstappen was heavily linked with the seat, and Antonelli’s own Formula 2 campaign did little to silence the doubters — he scored just two wins that season, the first not arriving until the 15th of 28 races.

Wolff did not name the departing sponsors, though it is known that fashion brand Tommy Hilfiger and sportswear manufacturer Puma both left Mercedes at the end of 2024. Adidas subsequently came on board as a global partner, while a mooted deal with Gillette ultimately fell through, with the brand signing instead with Audi.

For Wolff, the decision never felt like a leap of faith. “Sometimes I am asked why I take risks. But I only take calculated risks — ones where the worst possible outcome is that our life in the team I am responsible for would still not fundamentally change,” he said. Antonelli’s credentials in Formula 4 and Formula Regional had already convinced him the step up was justified. The world title at the Mexico Grand Prix, in just his second F1 season, settled the argument.