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Toto Wolff insists Mercedes does not want Andrea Kimi Antonelli to be promoted to Formula 1 before his 18th birthday, despite a Williams request for special dispensation for the Italian. Antonelli’…
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has made it clear that they are not pushing for Andrea Kimi Antonelli to move up to Formula 1 before turning 18, despite a request from Williams for special permission due to his success in junior categories. Williams, led by James Vowles, is exploring options for their driver lineup for the next two years and sought approval from the FIA for Antonelli to compete in F1 before his 18th birthday. Wolff emphasized the importance of Antonelli focusing on his F2 campaign and testing with Mercedes, rather than rushing his promotion to F1. The decision on the second driver alongside Max Verstappen at Mercedes for the upcoming year is still pending, with emphasis placed on improving the car’s performance after a challenging period. Wolff highlighted the team’s ongoing development efforts with consistent upgrades and expressed a desire for success not only for Mercedes but also for other teams powered by Mercedes engines, citing McLaren’s rapid progress as an encouraging example. Mercedes remains committed to continuous improvement through incremental gains and introducing new components to enhance their competitiveness.
