Wolff urges Antonelli to show aggression.
In the thrilling 2023 Dutch Grand Prix, a collision between 19-year-old Mercedes driver (name undisclosed) and Ferrari's Andrea Kimi Antonelli resulted in a significant setback for George Russell.
The incident, which occurred 20 laps after the overtake in Turn 12 following a Virtual Safety Car phase, saw Antonelli overtaking Russell off-track. Despite the impressive maneuvers leading up to the incident, the collision resulted in severe damage to Russell's Mercedes, causing approximately 50 points of downforce loss and a second's worth of speed decrease per lap.
Russell, who was initially poised for a podium finish, was forced to settle for a disappointing 16th place due to an additional 5-second penalty for exceeding the speed limit in the pit lane. He later claimed that under normal circumstances, he would have finished seventh or eighth.
Interestingly, Ferrari's team principal, Frédéric Vasseur, met with Antonelli after the race, and the young driver immediately apologised for his actions. Toto Wolff, Mercedes' team principal, chose not to criticise Antonelli, acknowledging that he was the fastest driver behind the McLarens until the incident.
Wolff also supported Russell's demand for a penalty for Leclerc, arguing that the overtake was off the track. However, the incident did not lead to a penalty for Leclerc in the Dutch Grand Prix.
Despite the mistake, Mercedes and Ferrari have expressed their support for Antonelli and Russell, respectively. Mercedes is not fighting for the title this year and is using this opportunity to encourage Antonelli's aggression in two-way battles on the track, understanding that mistakes can happen during the learning process. Similarly, Ferrari did not want to start a conflict with an Italian team a week before Monza, so they kept Antonelli out of the firing line.
Looking ahead, both teams hope that the mistakes made by their young drivers will pay off next year, when they will be expected to deliver. The goal for Antonelli is to learn from this experience and use it to his advantage in the future races and next season.
