Wolff finally expresses criticism as Antonelli stumbles once more.

      "I wasn’t impressed by him this weekend."

      Toto Wolff has deviated from his typical protective stance regarding teenage Mercedes talent Kimi Antonelli, candidly criticizing the Italian after a challenging weekend at Monza. Antonelli, 19, started in sixth place but dropped to eighth by the end due to a poor start, mistakes during practice, and another penalty—this time for a collision with Alex Albon. This incident followed his crash with Charles Leclerc the previous week at Zandvoort.

      "I was not impressed by him this weekend," Wolff stated to Servus TV after the race at Monza. "If a driver aims to perform well, they shouldn't be going into the gravel," he added, as quoted by the SID news agency. "His entire race was a disappointment. However, this won’t change my support for Kimi; I still believe he will become an excellent driver. He possesses immense talent, and as a racer, he has everything needed. But he has let me down this time."

      Wolff implied that Antonelli is still burdened by previous mistakes. "To have a smooth weekend, you cannot dwell on past errors. A driver cannot approach a corner full throttle if they keep recalling a previous crash there that ended their session. He simply needed a solid weekend to contend with Leclerc and George."

      Regarding the incident with Albon, Wolff was straightforward: "It was unnecessary because Albon was significantly faster. If you can defend against that, then you should assert yourself; if you can’t, then you have to ensure you don’t waste time. But the way he handled it was not acceptable."

      Despite his criticism, Wolff maintained that Antonelli possesses the skills needed for success. "Antonelli has been gifted with remarkable ability and talent; he is a true racer with all the essential qualities. But he must shed the burden. We need to help him find that freedom."

      Wolff also emphasized that Antonelli requires an immediate rebound at the next race. "He must have a clean weekend in Baku," Wolff added. "There will be less pressure, and it’s a track he knows well."

      Additionally, Wolff commended Monza victor Max Verstappen, whom he unsuccessfully tried to recruit for 2026. "You can clearly see today that there’s one person who makes everyone else look a bit inferior, a bit foolish. They should really consider what he’s doing differently."