While Mercedes has seen some amazing results in 2024, it has also been subjected to the worst of allegations. Even before the current season started, an anonymous email from a Silver Arrows employee wreaked havoc in the F1 world. The exact words of the email said that the team was performing a “systemic sabotage” of Lewis Hamilton‘s car. It also used some scathing remarks indicating that Mercedes is on a “dangerous path” that can be “life-threatening to Lewis“.

Although the investigations never found out who had sent the email, Mercedes has reaped two Grand Prix wins for Lewis Hamilton since then. But the 39-year-old will be leaving the team in 2025, leaving behind a space to fill in Toto Wolff‘s army. All reports claim that the Austrian billionaire has already found the able successor of the seven-time World Champion–Kimi Antonelli.

Even though he is just 17, Antonelli has already found success in the junior racing leagues and he currently races for Prema in F2. While fans have pointed fingers at Mercedes for their treatment of Lewis Hamilton, Antonelli’s recent words at an interview have totally changed the perception of Toto Wolff as a team principal. Speaking on his relationship with Wolff, Kimi told Motorsport-total, “[Our relationship is] very good, and not only in a professional sense. In difficult moments I ask him for advice, and I won’t deny that. And he always looks for a way to give me confidence.”

Kimi Antonelli has won two races in Formula 2 till now. And he has claimed that Toto Wolff helped him attain those wins. But how?

Kimi Antonelli has spoken about Toto Wolff’s part in making him win

Antonelli is one of the youngest participants in his debut season in Formula 2. But he has already brought some roaring victories for Prema. Currently, he is in the 6th spot in the F2 Championships, and he said Toto Wolff has had a huge contribution to his wins. The Italian commented, “In Silverstone, I called him after the disappointing qualifying in Formula 2 because it was a bit difficult for me.”

Then, Kimi highlighted how Toto walked him through his tough moment before the Silverstone Sprint. He said, “We talked a lot and that conversation gave me my confidence back. The next day I won and it was really nice to see him under the podium. I’m very happy with our relationship.” Kimi Antonelli‘s words show how friendly and caring Wolff is as a team principal, thus abolishing all rumors about him trying to sabotage Lewis Hamilton’s car.

Now, speaking of Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli, there have been some concerns regarding the driver swap. Do you think Toto Wolff should get his hopes up about Kimi?