Toto Wolff insists is reaping the rewards for taking the “threat” of selling right into a Formulation 1 race seat after the 18-year-old took pole place for the Miami dash race.
Antonelli has by no means raced in Miami earlier than however rapidly settled into the circuit and was on the head of the sphere for Saturday’s dash race, changing into the youngest driver to take any format of pole place in F1 historical past.
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Changing seven-time world champion with a teenage rookie for the 2025 season raised loads of eyebrows, particularly when Antonelli crashed out at Monza final yr in his first free follow outing for Mercedes.
Now although, having already scored 38 factors, Antonelli has taken the subsequent step by securing pole forward of the pair of and .
“There have been lots of voices, even inside the sport, suggesting he ought to have a preparation yr at or someplace related,” Mercedes staff principal Wolff advised ServusTV.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Toto Wolff, MercedesSam Bloxham / Motorsport Photos
Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photos
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“However for us it was clear: we wished to offer him that yr of preparation inside our personal staff, in order that he’d be prepared for subsequent yr when the brand new laws are available and he already is aware of all of the circuits.
“We had been prepared to take that threat even when it meant errors. And now we’re being rewarded for our braveness. We all the time stated there can be errors. However he’s stored growing steadily and hasn’t made these errors, although they are going to come sooner or later. However the mileage he’s put in is now paying off, and that’s what’s permitting him to carry out at this stage.”
Antonelli has been intently related to Mercedes since 2019, so Wolff has seen the Italian develop at shut quarters.
“This younger man – only a few years in the past, he was standing subsequent to me within the storage, eyes vast, taking all of it in,” he added.
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“It seems like that was solely yesterday. And now, the pace he’s exhibiting is unbelievable. He does not even know the monitor but, this was the subsequent huge step. It could solely be a ‘mini pole’, however you’ve obtained to take it when it comes.
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“I advised the cheering crowd within the storage instantly: ‘Okay, sufficient celebration. It is a dash qualifying pole, nice, however now the work begins for tomorrow. Let’s be certain we will replicate that efficiency in correct qualifying and for Sunday’s race’.”
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