Toto Wolff on the moment Lewis Hamilton’s exit decided Antonelli’s future

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff revealed that he instantly decided to promote Andrea Kimi Antonelli the morning Lewis Hamilton confirmed his move to Ferrari. Following Antonelli's world championship win at the Mexico City Grand Prix, Wolff explained that he made an immediate call to team leaders Bradley Lord and James Allison, having already resolved to place the young Italian directly into the Mercedes seat.

Wolff stated that internal telemetry and Antonelli's previous junior formula dominance justified the decision, viewing the move as a calculated risk rather than a gamble. He added that Antonelli's five-race winning streak convinced the team that the 2026 championship victory was inevitable.