Just two weeks back, Toto Wolff was criticizing his rookie driver, Kimi Antonelli, for an ‘underwhelming’ performance in Monza. But the young Italian has given his boss nothing to complain about his drive in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Despite some struggles in Q1, Kimi Antonelli was able to qualify P4 for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Antonelli was able to hold on to that position throughout the race. Despite getting close to Carlos Sainz, he was unable to make a move, giving the Spaniard his first podium with Williams.
Toto Wolff does not have any criticism for Kimi Antonelli this time
After the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Toto Wolff spoke to the media, where he praised the Mercedes rookie driver:
“It was a really good rebound after Monza. He had such a difficult spell with the European races. And coming in here with a solid P4, running in the front group, that’s something to continue to build on and consolidate.”
Good points, good pace, good learnings 👊 pic.twitter.com/kXUMlomRah
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) September 21, 2025
Kimi Antonelli has been struggling over the past few races. Throughout the European leg of the season, Kimi’s best result came in Monza, where he crossed the line 9th. So, this was a much-needed result for the Italian driver, and he will be looking to build on it going forward.
Heading to the next race in Singapore, Antonelli has a difficult task ahead as the circuit is known for physically testing the drivers because of the extreme weather conditions in the city. This will be Kimi’s first time racing in Singapore. So will he be able to carry this momentum on to the next race?
Mercedes could struggle in Singapore
This year, we have seen Mercedes perform well in cold weather conditions. This will not help in Singapore as it is one of the hottest races of the year. We can expect Mercedes to face some challenges in these conditions.
In hotter races, Mercedes often faces issues with maintaining tyre temperatures. This could once again be an issue for young Kimi Antonelli. Singapore will be a crucial race for the Silver Arrows as they just took 2nd place in the Constructors’ from Ferrari. While McLaren has almost sealed the Constructors’ Championship, the battle for 2nd place is wide open.
🚨 | George Russell doesn’t think Mercedes will carry this momentum to the next race in Singapore:
“The cold temperatures today meant it was all about keeping heat in the tyres, which is where we excel, like we saw in Vegas last year or Canada this year. Going to Singapore will…
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) September 21, 2025
Given the nature of the circuit, there are pros and cons for both Mercedes and Ferrari. We can expect the competition to be close between the two teams. However, it’s all going to come down to qualifying pace. Given how difficult overtaking has been this year, Singapore will make it more difficult thanks to its narrow streets and short straights.
If Mercedes is able to qualify ahead of the two Ferraris, the chances are they will finish ahead. What are your predictions heading to Singapore for the next race?
