Toto Wolff defends Antonelli after clash with Leclerc

Mercedes brag Toto Wolff has defended debutant Andrea Kimi Antonelli aft his collision with Charles Leclerc astatine the Dutch Grand Prix, stressing that helium wants the young Italian to proceed to effort assertive manoeuvres, portion pointing retired that radical successful Italy would beryllium blessed if Antonelli overtook Ferrari.

The incidental astatine Zandvoort

Towards the extremity of the contention astatine Zandvoort, Leclerc struggled to support some Mercedes down him successful the conflict for 5th place. Antonelli, with unit and caller tires, tried to walk Ferrari connected the wrong of crook three. However, connected the flatter portion of the incline, the Mercedes operator experienced understeer and crashed into the broadside of Leclerc's car, which resulted successful the Monaco antheral hitting the partition and severely damaging the beforehand end.

Antonelli avoided large damage, but received a 10-second penalty, an further 5 for pitting and 2 punishment points, leaving him retired of the points.

Wolff: Apology, but besides support

"I was reasoning during the race, what if Kimi had managed to overtake Ferrari? People successful Italy would person been happy. Italian fans privation a operator who fights, who pushes the car to the bounds and sometimes implicit it. That's what happened today," said Wolff.

He added that, though Mercedes does not privation to propulsion Ferrari retired of the race, specified situations are portion of a fierce competition:

"Of people we don't privation to propulsion Ferrari out. I'm definite Kimi particularly doesn't privation that. But it's a fierce drive. It's unfortunate and I consciousness atrocious for Charles and Ferrari. But we privation him to onslaught and that's however it should be."

"If the visor goes down, you person a monster"

Wolff erstwhile again reiterated his religion successful Antonelli:

"In a racing car, he's a fierce rival and that's from karting. If the visor goes down, you person a monster - and that's what we want."

A play afloat of ups and downs

For Antonelli, this was the 2nd large stroke connected the aforesaid weekend, aft helium already had a superior mishap successful the archetypal practice, which outgo him amended preparation. However, Wolff emphasizes that this is each portion of the plan:

"We were wide erstwhile we gave him the accidental - helium volition get a twelvemonth of learning. There volition beryllium hair-pulling moments, but besides moments of brilliance. This play shows it best."

The Austrian emphasized that specified falls are expected:

"A mistake successful the archetypal signifier enactment him successful a subordinate presumption for the full weekend. And past successful the contention helium shows speed, the fastest McLaren arrives, and past again the incidental that ended the contention for some him and Charles. Ups and downs - that's what I perfectly expected this season. Every time similar that is simply a acquisition for the adjacent one."