Toto Wolff says he made his alternative to advertise Andrea Kimi Antonelli 5 minutes after Lewis Hamilton instructed him he was leaving for Ferrari.
Hamilton shocked many in Method 1 along with his choice to depart Mercedes for Ferrari, asserting the change in the beginning of February regardless of having signed a brand new contract solely 5 months earlier. When on condition that information, Wolff says he knew he wished to place Antonelli into the seat, though delayed a ultimate choice whereas exploring the potential of attracting Max Verstappen from Pink Bull.
“I made up my thoughts 5 minutes after Lewis Hamilton instructed me he was going to Ferrari,” Wolff stated. “Clearly we have been discussing with different choices, and clearly the Max concept couldn’t be discounted fully taking a look at what occurred at Pink Bull, however instinctively that’s the lineup that I at all times wished. Taking into account the quick monitoring that we did with Kimi and every part that we did there too, but it surely was instantly what I wished to do.”
With Antonelli becoming a member of George Russell, Mercedes has solely confirmed its line-up for 2025 at this stage, and Wolff admits there are a number of choices in place that don’t assure the identical pairing past that time.
“These two are the longer term — they’ve been and will likely be Mercedes drivers. Due to this fact now we have contracts with George and Kimi that go for much longer which might be very sophisticated by way of choices, and so forth. It is a stress cooker, Mercedes at all times has been a stress cooker, however that is the place we stand as a staff right this moment, we wish to go along with these two.
“Like now we have finished prior to now, now we have at all times had very brief contracts. Even with Lewis the final time it got here round it was one plus one. That is in a means how the staff operated. However I believe what’s most essential is to see how George and Kimi settle in, and I see no motive at that stage not giving them the religion and the belief of going ahead.
“What meaning for the phrases is one thing that we are going to focus on between ourselves, however we wouldn’t have gone for the lineup with these two if we wouldn’t consider one hundred pc that they’re your best option for Mercedes.”
Wolff has overtly spoken of his curiosity in signing Verstappen prior to now, and wouldn’t rule out a future transfer for the Dutchman even after committing to a line-up with a median age of twenty-two years outdated.
“What I respect additionally in coping with them is that they’re simple and clear. I don’t flirt outdoors, I’ve at all times stated it. I obtained possibly caught out by the Lewis scenario, however I’ve not entertained any discussions with any drivers. We’re giving all from the staff to make it successful, and that is why all of our focus within the staff is on George and Kimi. And that’s the place I additionally stand.
“There isn’t any dialogue, there isn’t any second ideas about what we’re doing in 2026, as a result of now it’s about 2024 and 2025. And if flirting outdoors occurs, then they may realize it, these guys will realize it on the identical time, when now we have these discussions. I’ve at all times been open.”
