P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has admitted there will be times when Andrea Kimi Antonelli makes the team “rip our hair out” during his debut F1 season in 2025.
Andrea Antonelli has been chosen as the successor to Lewis Hamilton, who decided to end his F1 career with Ferrari after a successful partnership with Mercedes. Antonelli’s first season will involve stepping into Hamilton’s shoes, aiming to lead Mercedes to another title challenge. Despite a high-speed crash during his debut F1 race weekend in Monza, Antonelli showed great potential for success. Mercedes team principal Wolff anticipates more learning moments for Antonelli in 2025 as he adapts to the demands of F1. The decision to select Antonelli over established race winner Carlos Sainz was made with an eye on the future rule changes in 2026. Wolff sees 2025 as a transitional year for Antonelli to grow and learn from mistakes, preparing him for a stronger performance in the following season.
