Kimi Antonelli must lift in Azerbaijan after Toto Wolff’s criticism

The director of Mercedes described the Italian career in Monza as “disappointing”, although he maintains his support.

Mercedes still does not confirm its pilot alignment by 2026. Toto Wolff, director of the silver arrows, takes it almost naturally and during the Netherlands GP said that their two current pilots will continue, but that they do not “waiteither. Beyond verbal confirmation, the German team did not yet speak of a stamped signature for the renewal of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.

The English is the number 1 pilot of the team and is very firm. Not only because of its performance, it is that in the market there is nothing that can seduce either parties. There are no loose names that can shake the loop, more after Max Verstappen (Wolff’s object of desire) confirmed his continuity in Red Bull. And for Russell there are no tempting teams that have a free armchair. The problem is on the other side of the Mercedes box, with Antonelli.

ANDThe 19 -year -old is the diamond that the Germans polished from their passage through the karting. And he reached F1 to take the place left by Lewis Hamilton, after his departure to Ferrari. The Boloñés had a great premiere in the category: he scored 48 points in the first six races, with Pole for the Miami Sprint included. From Emilia-Romagna, her house career, the downturn arrived. He barely scored 18 units in the next ten competitions and 15 were in Canada, where he signed his first podium.

Sumun was the GP of Italy, in Monza. There, Wolff, who had maintained a quiet profile with Kimi’s bad performances, went to the bone when talking about the performance of his pupil: “Disappointing this weekend, disappointing.” Antonelli laughed sixth and ended ninth, with a five -second sanction for forcing Alex Albon to go outside. “That does not change my support and confidence in him, because I think it will be very, very, very good, but it was disappointing,” Toto closed.

Before Azerbaijan GP, ​​Kimi talked about his moment: “Normally I try not to see as something bad at pressure. Always try to hug the pressure, because there is a very famous saying that says that pressure is a privilege, and I totally agree with that. You have to try to hug and even use it as a fuel to act and shine. But, as I was fighting so much, I could not handle the pressure well, and that was part of my downfall, “he said.

Regarding the team’s support in this situation, Kimi said: “They always try, first of all, to support me, and they also always try to help me, especially at the time when I am spending trouble, and that also helps to feel a little less pressure, because you have the team behind.”