The former Haas Formula 1 boss, Guenther Steiner, commented on Mercedes’ management and stated that Toto Wolff might be motivated by a kind of “revenge” by betting on Kimi Antonelli as the team’s prospect. According to Steiner, Wolff treats his drivers equally in the current internal dispute between Antonelli and George Russell:
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“I don’t think he needs to do much management with George,” he told the Drive to Wynn podcast. “George has his own autonomy. I think Toto is treating both of them equally. He is very fair to them, because George came up through the Mercedes junior categories, and Kimi also came up through the Mercedes junior categories.”
Antonelli was promoted to Formula 1 in 2025 after years of development within the team itself, starting from karting. His debut was inconsistent, but the driver evolved quickly and started the current season in great form, with two victories in the first three races and the championship lead. The situation also rekindles comparisons with Mercedes’ past, which tried to sign Max Verstappen but saw the Dutchman opt for Red Bull in 2015.
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For Steiner, this story influences Wolff’s decision. “With Kimi, Toto still remembers the time he couldn’t get Verstappen, and now this is a small revenge for him: ‘I got the next superstar,’” he said. Despite this, he denied favoritism. “Toto is above that, favoring one or the other. For him, the most important thing is that the team wins. He is there for Mercedes and for Toto.”
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