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Toto Wolff says he made his choice to promote Andrea Kimi Antonelli five minutes after Lewis Hamilton told him he was leaving for Ferrari. Hamilton shocked many in Formula 1 with his decision to le…
Toto Wolff decided to promote Andrea Kimi Antonelli to fill Lewis Hamilton’s place at Mercedes just five minutes after Hamilton informed him of his move to Ferrari. While considering the option of attracting Max Verstappen from Red Bull, Wolff ultimately went with his instinct to choose Antonelli as a part of the desired lineup. The Mercedes team has confirmed George Russell and Antonelli for the 2025 season, with Wolff hinting at potential changes beyond that, given their long and complex contracts. Wolff emphasized the importance of giving Russell and Antonelli the opportunity to prove themselves, showing confidence in their ability to deliver success for the team. Despite his past interest in Verstappen, Wolff made it clear that the current focus is on Russell and Antonelli, with any potential future discussions being transparent and involving the drivers themselves.
