After the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Toto Wolff and Antonelli ventured to Italy for a Netflix Drive to Survive shoot at Imola’s Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. Amidst preparations with AKM Motorsports, Antonelli’s team’s tranquillity shattered.

Behind the wheel of a Mercedes AMG GT3, Wolff faced a harrowing moment. With Netflix’s cameras rolling, they captured his narrow escape from a crash into the trackside wall. Drive to Survive witnessed the incident, which highlighted how risky motorsport is. For Wolff, a former racer, it was a stark reminder of the risks involved. How did this happen? Let’s delve in and see.

Toto Wolff close call at Drive to Survive Shooting

With a break in the F1 calendar, Mercedes seized the opportunity to film for the Netflix series Drive to Survive at the iconic Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola. The Silver Arrows’ team boss and Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, shared his desire to take a few laps behind the Mercedes AMG GT3 wheel during the shoot. As curiosity piqued, Ooe24 was keen to see if Wolff could match up against Jos Verstappen, dad of Max Verstappen, as both used to race professionally. Mercedes, the team principal, told oe24, “Jos was a step above me.” The 52-year-old Viennese wants to leave it at that. Wolff: “My driving skills are not ideal at the moment. During our tests in Imola I had a problem with the traction control and I hit the wall after two laps.”

As Toto Wolff drove around the Imola track, he suddenly lost control at Rivazza and crashed into the nearby wall due to wet patches on the road. The impact damaged the front right of his car, shocking everyone present. Fortunately, Wolff narrowly escaped the major disaster, reassuring everyone that he was okay despite the scare. On the other hand, Kimi Antonelli, a rising star who is being considered as a potential Lewis Hamilton replacement at Mercedes, was with Toto.

Toto Wolff rates Kimi Antonelli 

Mercedes, initially banking on Lewis Hamilton to spearhead the development of the W15, finds itself in a tight spot as it searches for a successor to fill the shoes of the seven-time world champion. While numerous contenders have thrown their hats into the ring for the coveted Mercedes seat in 2025, Andrea Kimi Antonelli generates the most buzz. Hailing from Bologna, the 17-year-old caught Mercedes’ attention as a junior driver in 2019, showcasing remarkable talent in karting. Bologna is poised to make his mark in Formula 2 this season in 2024 and will debut in F1 by 2025.

Bologna was also present with Toto Wolff during the Imola incident. Wolff holds high expectations for Kimi Antonelli, dubbing him a “wonder kid.” This sentiment likely influenced the Mercedes team principal’s reluctance to offer Brit a long-term extension in 2023.  Bologna’s exceptional potential prompted Mercedes to bypass F3 and expedite his path to F1. The young boy’s confident in his abilities, so Mercedes is actively grooming him for a future in Formula 1. Toto’s bold approach hints at Kimi Antonelli as 7 time champion 2025  replacement. With Antonelli juggling F1 and F2 commitments, Wolff seems poised to elevate him to the F1 stage.

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