A 70-Year First: How Toto Wolff Is Reshaping Mercedes’ Approach for Kimi Antonelli

At the start of the year, Mercedes brought in Kimi Antonelli, marking the first time that a rookie joined their roster since 1954, when German driver Karl Kling debuted alongside Juan Manuel Fangio.

Wolff recently guested on the Beyond the Grid podcast ahead of the season closer in Abu Dhabi, during which he spoke about how he handled Antonelli’s debut season, his approach to the development of young talent, and how this fits into the future of the team.

“The thing is that, when we speak with Kimi, you know, we are brutally honest when it's good and when it's bad,” said Wolff to podcast host Tom Clarkson. “And then you remind yourself that you're not sitting opposite an adult, but… Kimi is more a kid than an adult. And you have to remind yourself that he's just 19.”

Indeed, Mercedes did not simply have a rookie in their hands. Antonelli was the youngest driver of the entire 2025 grid. And while Wolff has praised him for his maturity throughout the season, he also emphasized the importance of keeping Antonelli’s youth in mind, particularly in a setting as challenging as the F1 paddock.

“When you look at some of the worst races it's just overwhelming, I think, the experience that he's making, with all of the interest and media pressure, they're writing you up and down, you have an extremely quick and experienced teammate, and he's still coping and I think that shows that he has great potential for the future,” said Wolff with an empathy that has clearly shaped how he approached expectations, for not just Antonelli, but for himself as a team leader.

“When I was 19 I was a bit of an idiot. I wouldn't have been able to cope with the pressures that he is. 

“And that’s why when I talk to him and I'm a little bit harsh with him, I need to almost take myself back and say, hold on a minute, you know, he's a kid. And that's quite an interesting learning for us also.”

When asked about how he sees his role as a mentor to Antonelli, Wolff again spoke very candidly about having to balance what is needed from an F1 driver in a top-tier team with the human aspect of having such a young talent in his ranks.

“I think what I need to be is to look after him here when he's within the racing team. Protect him from some of the missteps that he potentially could do or did. Guide. Put my arm around his shoulder when things are difficult.

“But also be open and honest when things are not running well without ever giving him the feeling that this is a hire and fire institution that we are.

“Some of the other teams have been like that in the past and we've always said, you know, this is a development year.”

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Indeed, that Antonelli’s debut season was meant to be a development year is a point that Wolff has repeatedly emphasized throughout 2025. The message became especially prominent during a period of struggle for the rookie midway through the year, when Wolff and Mercedes faced criticism and questions about promoting him from Formula 2 to F1 too early. 

Beyond just his roles as CEO and team principal, Wolff also owns a portion of Mercedes, putting him in a position that demands a high investment in both short-term results and long-term expectations for the team. And his attitude towards the criticisms of Antonelli reflects that responsibility; instead of adopting a ‘next man up’ approach, Wolff is giving Antonelli space and time to build a solid foundation, both for his own future and for the sustained interests of Mercedes as a whole.

“I'm running Mercedes. I'm responsible for this brand in Formula 1 and for the many people that work for it. So, I need to extract the best out of him in order for him to be successful in the car whilst always having an eye on him.”

In an era where rookie drivers are often given just a handful of races to prove themselves lest they be put on the chopping block, Wolff’s comments underline the broader philosophy with which he is leading Mercedes. For him, development is not about instant results. It is about leadership, accountability and creating the conditions needed for long-term success.

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All images via Mercedes-Benz Media.