Mercedes, Toto Wolff is already looking ahead. And throws down the challenge to Ferrari

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff gave a lengthy interview to ‘La Gazzetta dello Sport’ in which he also spoke about Ferrari, which recently renewed the contract of Frederic Vasseur. “Any other choice would have been really stupid – he stressed -I have known Fred since we were in our early twenties and I know how valuable he is as a motorsport man, I know his entrepreneurial vision and his strength. To have such a person on your team is a blessing and you have to remember how much time it takes, in F1, to create a successful project”.

Who is struggling with the Rossa is Lewis Hamilton: “Ferrari is the team with the greatest heritage in the world and for Lewis to drive for them is a great honor but also a challenge. He puts his heart into everything he does and is very sincere: when he goes through difficult times he takes responsibility for it. It is a characteristic of the great ones: if they know they have not been up to the mark, they don’t blame the team but look inside themselves. Once this moment passes he will come back with the motivation he always”.

In place of the Englishman in Mercedes is Andrea Kimi Antonelli: “Kimi is a great talent: he is fast, he is smart, but he is very young. I said it from the beginning: he will make mistakes, we know that and we would not have caught him if we were not aware of it. Unfortunately, we have an inconsistent car and that makes it more difficult for him to adapt. But going through these difficulties is also part of the process of becoming a champion”.

Wolff has no doubt which opponent he would like to challenge in 2026: “The answer is simple: Ferrari. To see Ferrari versus Mercedes would be beautiful. A classic. And then Lewis and Charles versus Kimi and George, an incredible challenge. An Italian driver against an Italian car: can you imagine that? I have no doubt that this duel will be there, next year or in the future. We will experience it, and it will be fantastic”.