Wolff unfazed by Antonelli's aggression: 'Sorry Charles, but he's going for it'
Charles Leclerc post-DNF at Zandvoort (2)
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli saw a rise in form in Zandvoort, following a rather tumultuous run in recent races. Although his Dutch Grand Prix was marred by incidents, Mercedes CEO and team principal Toto Wolff defends his young driver.
Antonelli was fighting for, at the time, P5 with Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. Attempting an undercut on the Monegasque, Antonelli emerged from the pits with soft tyres. Leclerc tried to cover the Italian off and dove for the pits the very next lap, only to come out with a hard-charging Antonelli on his heels.
As the pair headed into Turn 3, Antonelli went for a lower line around the emblematic corner, as opposed to Leclerc who chose a high line.
As they both exited the corner, the Italian clipped the Monegasque's rear left, punctured it and sent him spinning into the outer wall, ripping the SF-25's nose clean off.
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Wolff believes Kimi is just 'going for the moves as he should'
When asked if the Italian fans would reproach Antonelli for his actions last Sunday, Wolff negated such claims in conversation with GPblog, among other media present.
"Well, you know, I was thinking in the race, what would it have been if Kimi would have overtaken a Ferrari? I think the people in Italy would have been happy.
"The Italian fans want an Italian driver that is fighting, that pushes the car to the limit and sometimes over the limit. And that's what happened today.
"The Italian fans don't want to have a hesitating driver, [they want] someone that goes," added Wolff, clarifying that: "Obviously, from the team's perspective, we don't want to take a Ferrari out, certainly not.
"I'm sure Kimi doesn't want to take a Ferrari out particularly, but it is what it is.
"I'm sure Kimi doesn't want to take a Ferrari out particularly, but it is what it is.
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But in the end as Wolff sees it: "It's hard racing, unfortunate, and I'm sorry for Charles and Ferrari, but we want him to go for the moves and he should."
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