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Toto Wolff Sends Powerful Message Before Imola GP

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Samriddhi Jaiswal | Last updated May 16, 2025 11:36 AM ET

As F1 arrives at the historic Imola circuit for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has delivered a powerful message to his drivers that underscored the intensity surrounding this weekend.

With Wolff heading to Los Angeles and not attending the race in person, he took time to speak directly to George Russell and 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli who will face the added pressure of his F1 debut on home soil in Bologna.

Wolff admitted it would be the first time he’d be fully disconnected from a race weekend—without his intercom panel—but emphasized that this event felt like a critical moment, especially for Antonelli.

“There will be so much pressure on you with the Italian media,” he said, urging his young driver to mentally block out distractions. “Friends and family might be unconscious also. Literally push all of that away that is coming towards you that you feel is detrimental to our state of mind.”

Russell, now the senior driver at Mercedes, asked where his guidance was. Wolff responded with quiet conviction: “You are 27 years old, you are the senior in this team. You’ve seen it all, you’ve done it all. You can cope with that easier than an 18-year-old at his first Grand Prix in Bologna in his hometown.”

He added that although he wouldn’t be in their ears over team radio, he would still follow the sessions via live timing and stay in touch with key personnel. “That’s the advantage you have this weekend,” he told them. “Thank you. Hope it goes well. Bye.”

Toto pic.twitter.com/QykKntZetb
— did kimi score points in f1 today? (@kimipoints) May 16, 2025

The message captures both the emotional stakes and the internal expectations at Mercedes, a team still searching for consistency in 2025.

For Antonelli, who is already carrying the hopes of a nation at just 18, Wolff’s vote of confidence could prove crucial as he takes on one of the most high-pressure debuts.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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