The tension in the Mercedes garage at the Italian Grand Prix nearly turned into a nightmare. Toto Wolff admitted he was close to pressing the intervention button as Kimi Antonelli and George Russell engaged in a fierce battle for victory at Monza.
For Wolff, the moment on lap 49 when Russell cut Turn 2 and Antonelli slid wide into the gravel was the most tense. "That could have ended in disaster," he said. "We would have looked like idiots."
Antonelli, who started his home race from 19th after a grid penalty, impressed by climbing to second in just 16 laps. A 12-lap battle with Russell ensued, with the Silver Arrows trading the lead several times. A Virtual Safety Car intervention allowed Antonelli to pit and rejoin just 14 seconds behind his teammate.
With fresh tires, the 20-year-old Italian caught up and took the lead with six laps remaining. However, a heart-stopping moment occurred as they battled closely. Wolff, watching from the pit wall, admitted he considered contacting their race engineers, Marcus Dudley and Peter Bonnington.
"We're trying to anticipate possible scenarios, and they've been great in understanding the team component," Wolff said. "But they've always been clean. At times, we were thinking, 'It's clean, but it's a bit close'. I had a finger on the button, but I didn't push it."
Wolff stressed that the incident on lap 49 was crucial. Russell tried not to cut the corner, but Antonelli, on the marbles, went straight. "That could have ended in disaster in terms of race result. We would have looked like idiots," he reiterated.
Despite the scare, Wolff saw a positive side. "It was worth showing the racing spirit in the team and letting them go at each other," he said. He noted this battle will be a topic for future discussions but also proof that Mercedes has two drivers hungry for victory.
The 1-2 finish, with Antonelli leading Russell by four seconds and Max Verstappen by 15, was a sweet achievement. But for Wolff, it wasn't just about the result, but about managing two drivers who both want to win.
Baca Juga
Toto Wolff mengaku sudah tahu Kimi Antonelli akan tampil spesial di GP Italia 2026. Kemenangan dari posisi 19 ini jadi bukti firasat sang bos Mercedes.
Toto Wolff mengkritik kesalahan Kimi Antonelli di Monza yang bisa membuat Mercedes tampak bodoh, namun menilai itu bagian dari pembelajaran demi masa depan tim.
Toto Wolff mengaku duel Kimi Antonelli dan George Russell di GP Italia nyaris berakhir bencana. Simak analisis lengkapnya di Sportrik.
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