Former Haas team boss Günther Steiner states that Toto Wolff may be taking a form of “revenge” on Max Verstappen by giving Andrea Kimi Antonelli a chance at Mercedes. According to Steiner, missing out on Verstappen in the past still plays a role for the Mercedes team boss, who has now brought in another young talent with Antonelli. “It’s about winning for Toto and Mercedes,” Steiner said.
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For Mercedes, Max Verstappen was once the goal, even before his Formula 1 debut with Red Bull. According to Günther Steiner, giving Kimi Antonelli the seat feels like a kind of revenge on Verstappen for Toto Wolff. “With Kimi, Toto still thinks back to the moment he missed out on Verstappen back then. This is now a bit of his revenge: ‘I have the next superstar’,” Steiner said on the podcast Drive to Wynn.
“Toto is very fair”
Kimi Antonelli was promoted to Mercedes in 2025 and had an inconsistent debut season in Formula 1. This season, however, his start is stronger, as the Italian won two of the first three Grands Prix. Antonelli currently leads the world championship, ahead of his teammate George Russell. Steiner does not expect this to lead to tensions within the German team in the title fight between the two drivers. “I don’t think Toto has to manage much with George. He stands firm. I think Toto treats them equally. He is very fair, because George and Kimi have both been trained by Mercedes,” said the former Haas team boss.
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Mercedes tried to sign Verstappen early in his career, but the Dutchman ultimately chose Red Bull, where he was immediately promised a Formula 1 seat. According to Steiner, that missed opportunity is still a reference point within Mercedes, especially now that Antonelli has progressed to the team through their own academy. Despite the suggestion of “revenge,” Steiner emphasizes that Wolff primarily has one goal. “Toto is above favoring one or the other. For him, the most important thing is that the team wins. That’s what it’s all about for Toto and Mercedes,” Steiner concluded.
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