Toto Wolff, Principal of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, announced a decisive shift in Mercedes’ strategy towards nurturing its burgeoning talent for the 2025 season, centering around young driver Kimi Antonelli. The announcement not only clarifies Mercedes’ future driver lineup but also sets the stage for a new era focused on youth and innovation.
Wolff articulated the team’s commitment to fostering new talent, underscoring their decision to hone in on Antonelli, an emerging star whose recent testing performances at Imola and Silverstone have markedly impressed the team’s hierarchy. While a contract is yet to be signed, Wolff’s statements expressly ruled out the incorporation of Carlos Sainz into their 2025 lineup, a move that has been the subject of widespread speculation.
“We just want to focus on Kimi, this is our future, the young drivers,” Wolff told Sky Sports F1, as quoted by RacingNews365. Despite rumors of Antonelli outperforming current Mercedes driver George Russell and test participant Mick Schumacher, Wolff dismissed these claims as exaggerations, explaining that the tests were not about lap times but instead about adhering to specific developmental agendas.
“Some claims that Kimi was faster than George and much faster than Mick are absolutely nonsense. All three led with different agendas,” he clarified. “Both [Kimi and Mick] completed the program we gave them, and the performances were exactly what we expected.
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“All three were equally fast. George was by far the fastest and that’s how he should be, but we executed our plans. It wasn’t about setting fast times.”
Meanwhile, the narrative surrounding Carlos Sainz has taken a turn towards Williams, with James Vowles, former Mercedes strategist and now with Williams, hinting at a potential significant acquisition.
“Williams is not the same as three years ago. And by definition, the fact that we spoke with Carlos shows that we have changed our approach,” Vowles commented, as quoted by Crash.net. “We want two top-level drivers to be part of our team in the future. We want the world to realize that we are here, that we are serious and that we are investing to return to the front lines.”
According to Vowles, securing Sainz would underscore a rejuvenated image and competitive resurgence for Williams.
“The world is changing, and a driver like Carlos is very important in this sense regarding the general picture of our situation. Of course, the difference is that he has the choice to come here or not. The choice is up to him. I think it’s an easy decision to come here. But he has to be the one to take it.”
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