‘Thrown to the cannibals’: Wolff salutes Antonelli’s survival F1 season

©Mercedes

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Mercedes boss Toto Wolff isn’t one to sugar-coat Formula 1 – and his verdict on Kimi Antonelli’s rookie season is as brutal as it is glowing.

In Wolff’s eyes, 2025 was not about protecting the 19-year-old prodigy. It was about survival, growth, and throwing him straight into the fire.

Replacing Lewis Hamilton was always going to be an impossible act to follow, but Antonelli didn’t flinch. From a stunning P4 on debut in Australia to sprint pole and a breakthrough podium in Canada, the Italian teenager showed flashes of brilliance that justified Mercedes’ faith – even as the pressure of a top team tested him relentlessly.

‘Thrown to the cannibals’

Wolff had warned everyone what was coming long before Antonelli turned a wheel.

"Last year when we announced that he would drive the car, I said that we're going to have ups and downs, moments of brilliance and then other moments where you want to tear your hair out," Wolff explained during a Mercedes debrief video.

"Because of the… you call them learnings, but because of the mistakes, that's what it is. And I think we have seen exactly that. We've seen very strong races at the beginning of the season, particularly towards the end. But I think we never doubted in the speed, the talent and his ability."

And then came Wolff’s most vivid assessment of life at the sharp end of Formula 1.

"It's just you're being thrown to the cannibals in Formula 1. The intense pressure of the media, the responsibility you have to Mercedes - to the many people that are giving their all to provide you an engine and a car."

Pressure builds champions

For Wolff, the toughest lessons came mid-season, when expectations multiplied and demands pulled Antonelli in every direction.

"I think probably that was the learning, throughout the middle of the season, particularly in Europe, with everybody wanting something from you,” he said. “And he's a good person. So he didn't want to say no either.”

©Mercedes

Despite the bruises, the outcome speaks volumes. Antonelli finished seventh in the Drivers’ Championship with 150 points, helping Mercedes secure P2 in the Constructors’ standings.

"And overall, I would say a good season, full of learning, a strong base to move from here and start in 2026 with a new car, new to everyone. And you know what to expect,” concluded Wolff.

At Mercedes, they don’t ease you in. They throw you to the cannibals – and if you survive, you’re ready to lead.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.