Janice R. Andrews
Mercedes misjudged the pressure on Andrea Kimi Antonelli during his F1 FP1 debut at Monza. The 18-year-old Italian crashed just 10 minutes into the session, despite showing promise in earlier tests.
Team principal Toto Wolff admitted they underestimated the stress of debuting on home soil. Antonelli’s crash at Parabolica came as his 2025 Mercedes drive was being announced, adding to the pressure.
Wolff expressed concern for Antonelli’s emotional state but sees the incident as a learning opportunity. He emphasized the need to balance ambition with experience for young drivers.
Mercedes remains committed to Antonelli’s long-term development. They chose to bring him directly into their team to shape him according to their methods. Wolff stressed that while they believe in Antonelli’s potential, they don’t expect immediate results.
The team views this setback as part of Antonelli’s growth process. They’re prepared to support him through future challenges, focusing on gradual development rather than instant success in Formula 1.
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