{"id":4908,"date":"2026-11-03T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/?p=4908"},"modified":"2026-11-03T11:52:49","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T14:52:49","slug":"who-is-this-kid-wolff-reveals-sponsors-abandoned-mercedes-over-antonelli-gamble","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/who-is-this-kid-wolff-reveals-sponsors-abandoned-mercedes-over-antonelli-gamble\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Who is this kid?’: Wolff reveals sponsors abandoned Mercedes over Antonelli gamble"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed that two sponsors left the Formula 1 team because of its decision to replace Lewis Hamilton with Andrea Kimi Antonelli in 2025<\/strong>. The Austrian said the commercial partners questioned the appointment of an 18-year-old with no Grand Prix experience, but insisted that Mercedes had sufficient evidence to believe the Italian could become a world champion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking to Sky Sports F1<\/em> following Antonelli’s historic championship triumph at the Mexico City Grand Prix, Wolff reflected on the opposition Mercedes encountered when it decided to promote the youngster directly from Formula 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decision ultimately delivered the 2026 Drivers’ World Championship, with Antonelli becoming the youngest champion in Formula 1 history at 20 years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"F1
Toto Wolff (Photo: AFP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wolff reveals Mercedes lost two sponsors over Antonelli decision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wolff acknowledged that not everyone involved with Mercedes shared his confidence in Antonelli when Hamilton announced his departure for Ferrari.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some commercial partners questioned whether the young Italian was ready to replace one of the most successful drivers in Formula 1 history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mercedes boss revealed that the disagreement had financial consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We had two sponsors leaving us because of that,”<\/strong> Wolff told Sky Sports F1<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He recalled that the partners questioned the identity and credentials of Hamilton’s replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Who is this kid?”<\/strong> was the reaction Wolff attributed to those who doubted Antonelli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the Austrian stressed that other partners remained committed to Mercedes throughout the project and were now benefiting from the team’s success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wolff did not identify the two sponsors that left or disclose the financial value of their agreements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tommy Hilfiger and Puma ended their partnerships with Mercedes after the 2024 season, while Adidas became the team’s clothing partner in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, there is no confirmation that Tommy Hilfiger and Puma were the two sponsors Wolff was referring to<\/strong>, and their departures should not be directly attributed to Antonelli’s promotion without further evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wolff decided Antonelli would replace Hamilton immediately<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wolff also revealed how quickly he reached his decision after learning that Hamilton would leave Mercedes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The seven-time world champion announced his move to Ferrari ahead of the 2024 season, creating one of the most sought-after vacancies on the Formula 1 grid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although several established drivers were linked with the seat, including Max Verstappen, Wolff said his preferred replacement had already been identified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Austrian explained that he immediately informed senior Mercedes personnel that Antonelli would take the position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bradley Lord, now the team’s deputy principal, and technical director James Allison were among those told about the decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Wolff, their initial reaction reflected the scale of the gamble Mercedes appeared to be taking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the team principal insisted that the available performance data supported his choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Antonelli had already demonstrated exceptional ability in Formula 4 and Formula Regional, convincing Mercedes that his potential extended beyond his results in Formula 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wolff maintained that the decision was based on evidence accumulated throughout Antonelli’s junior career<\/strong>, rather than an emotional response to Hamilton’s departure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"F1
Kimi Antonelli (Photo: Mercedes)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mercedes faced criticism during Antonelli’s difficult rookie season<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The decision became increasingly controversial during Antonelli’s first Formula 1 campaign in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Italian arrived in the championship at just 18 years old, having skipped Formula 3 and completed only one season in Formula 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although he demonstrated impressive speed, his rookie campaign included several difficult periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wolff recalled that Antonelli endured nine consecutive races without scoring points during the European portion of the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pressure became particularly intense at the Belgian Grand Prix, where the young driver struggled emotionally after a difficult weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Critics questioned whether Mercedes had promoted him too early and whether he should have spent one or two seasons developing with a smaller team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wolff rejected those suggestions, explaining that the team had always regarded Antonelli as a long-term project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said Mercedes expected the Italian’s second season to provide a clearer indication of his true potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the disappointing results, the team’s confidence never wavered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wolff insists Antonelli was a calculated risk, not a gamble<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wolff described the promotion as a calculated risk based on Mercedes’ knowledge of Antonelli’s ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He acknowledged that outside observers had questioned the decision, but insisted that the team’s senior leadership had supported it throughout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mercedes chief executive Ola K\u00e4llenius was among those who backed the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Austrian also explained that criticism came from rival teams, other drivers who believed they deserved the opportunity and sections of the media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most difficult moments arrived when Antonelli struggled during his rookie season, apparently reinforcing the concerns of those who opposed his promotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Wolff maintained that the development programme was progressing as expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He argued that Mercedes had planned for a project lasting at least two seasons and that the second year would provide the evidence needed to assess its success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Antonelli’s 2026 championship has now delivered that confirmation.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Antonelli’s world title rewards Mercedes’ long-term investment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Antonelli secured the Drivers’ Championship at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday (November 1), finishing third behind Max Verstappen and Hamilton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 20 years, 2 months and 7 days<\/strong>, he became Formula 1’s youngest world champion, breaking Sebastian Vettel’s record from 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The title also ended Italy’s 73-year wait for another Formula 1 world champion<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The achievement represented the culmination of Mercedes’ investment in Antonelli, who joined the manufacturer’s junior programme in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wolff recalled watching the Italian develop from karting into a championship-winning Formula 1 driver, praising the commitment shown by everyone involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mercedes team principal has also argued that Antonelli has nothing left to prove following his first world championship<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The title arrives at a significant moment for Mercedes, which can also secure the Constructors’ Championship at the upcoming S\u00e3o Paulo Grand Prix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The German manufacturer needs to extend its advantage over Ferrari by three points in Brazil<\/a>, under the currently scheduled calendar and points allocation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Wolff, the championship has provided the strongest possible response to those who questioned the decision to replace Hamilton with an inexperienced teenager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mercedes lost two commercial partners over that decision, but the team principal believes its confidence in Antonelli has now been fully justified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GRANDE PR\u00caMIO<\/strong> is following every session of the S\u00e3o Paulo Grand Prix this weekend, with breaking news, full coverage and real-time updates in its Formula 1 section<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Toto Wolff says two sponsors left Mercedes after the team chose 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli to replace Lewis Hamilton, but insists the decision was always a calculated risk that ultimately delivered the 2026 Formula 1 world title.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1020320134,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"42wp_featured_image_caption":"Andrea Kimi Antonelli","42wp_featured_image_credits":"Mercedes","42wp_featured_video":"","42wp_ai_content_disclaimer":"","42wp_is_ai_content":false,"42wp_featured_image_hidden":false,"42wp_authors_list":[{"id":93,"location":""}],"footnotes":"","42wp_hide_from_automatic":false,"42wp_breaking_news":false},"categories":[5],"tags":[19,63,16,116],"42wp_author":[93],"class_list":["post-4908","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-f1","tag-andrea-kimi-antonelli","tag-lewis-hamilton","tag-mercedes","tag-toto-wolff","42wp_author-marcos-gil"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4908","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4908"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4908\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4909,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4908\/revisions\/4909"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1020320134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4908"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4908"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4908"},{"taxonomy":"42wp_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/42wp_author?post=4908"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}