Toto Wolff delivers stinging ‘underwhelming’ Kimi Antonelli Italian GP assessment

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff branded Kimi Antonelli’s Monza weekend “underwhelming,” highlighting rookie inconsistency. Betting angle: Antonelli looks a risky outright pick — consider underdog props (finish outside top‑6) or backing teammate George Russell in head‑to‑head markets until Antonelli regains form and confidence.

Wolff Cautions Over Antonelli After Underwhelming Monza Showing

Kimi Antonelli endured a difficult Italian Grand Prix weekend, finishing ninth and well adrift of team‑mate George Russell. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff delivered a blunt assessment, underlining growing concerns about the rookie’s consistency as he navigates his debut F1 season.

Monza mistakes and the performance gap

Antonelli was beached in the gravel early in FP2 but recovered to qualify on the third row beside Russell. By the chequered flag, however, he trailed his team‑mate by four positions and roughly 27 seconds, with Williams’ Alex Albon and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto also finishing ahead. The gap exposed a clear performance imbalance within the Mercedes line‑up.

Wolff’s verdict: support but clear frustration

Wolff did not mince words: “Underwhelming this weekend, underwhelming.” He criticised errors such as the FP2 excursion and the time lost to rivals, and warned that past incidents were weighing on Antonelli’s approach. Despite the rebuke, Wolff reiterated belief in Antonelli’s talent and long‑term potential.

Consistency, racecraft and mental baggage

The rookie has already seen incidents at previous rounds — notably a clash with Charles Leclerc at Zandvoort that ended both drivers’ races — and Wolff said that such episodes create “luggage” that inhibits attacking corners or drivers afterward. He stressed that Antonelli should not be losing time to midfield runners like Pierre Gasly.

How Mercedes plan to reset before 2026

Looking ahead to major regulation changes in 2026, Wolff emphasised freeing Antonelli to express his natural speed: “Drive. He’s a great driver… we need to get rid of the ballast.” The team will likely prioritise rebuilding his confidence and cleaning up weekend execution as the season continues. Antonelli slipped to eighth in the Drivers’ Championship after Monza, now behind Alex Albon.

Betting implications for punters

Form instability makes Antonelli a volatile bet in outright and podium markets. Punters may find more value in conservative plays: head‑to‑head markets backing Russell, props expecting Antonelli to finish outside the top‑6, or in‑race markets that capitalise on potential mistakes until he strings together cleaner weekends.

Toto Wolff still has faith in Kimi Antonelli, but gave a damning assessment of his performance at Monza.

Planet F1