Mercedes would not have been able to take the risk of promoting Kimi Antonelli without already having George Russell, according to a message Toto Wolff sent to the entire team.
Antonelli joined Mercedes in 2025 after seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton moved to Ferrari. In only his second season in the series, the Italian driver became the youngest world champion in the history of F1 ...Keep reading

Source: Mercedes could only gamble on Kimi Antonelli because of George Russell, Toto Wolff told staff