Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has cast a positive verdict on Andrea Kimi Antonelli‘s Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix performance, after a summer of discontent for the Italian.
Antonelli has endured a miserable leg of the European of his maiden F1 campaign, scoring three points in all races on the continent.
The most notable negative moments in that time came at the previous two rounds – taking out Charles Leclerc in Zandvoort, and spinning in FP2 at Monza.
It led to Wolff describing his performance in the latter as “underwhelming,” acknowledging that he needed to get back to showing his full potential soon.
And in Baku, Antonelli took full advantage of a topsy-turvy qualifying by planting his W16 fourth on the grid, and then cementing that position in the race.
It might have been easy to not back Antonelli to flourish in such chaotic circumstances with his abilities coming into question, but Wolff intimated his satisfaction with his performance.
“It was a really good rebound after Monza,” Wolff told the media, including Motorsport Week.
“He had such a difficult spell with the European races, and coming here with a solid P4 and running at the front, in the front group, is something to continue to build on and consolidate, and then have more good weekends until the end of the year.
“I think we always speak very openly with each other; there is no such thing as holding back.
“He was not meeting his own expectations with what happened in Monza, where the driving just wasn’t what he expected or wanted it to be.
“Maybe a bit was missing in ultimate performance that maybe made the difference between a podium or not, but it was such a good consolidation, and in my opinion, it was important to score that result.”
It secured a positive result for the German marque, with George Russell taking second place amid a weekend-long battle with illness.
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