Bernie Collins poses new question about Kimi Antonelli despite Toto Wolff’s backing
Photo by Marcel van Dorst/EYE4IMAGES/NurPhoto via Getty Images Bernie Collins has highlighted a key issue surrounding Kimi Antonelli, even though she believes the young driver is already justifying Toto Wolff’s faith in him. Antonelli, now 19, has made a rapid ascent through the ranks, earning the opportunity to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes for the 2025 Formula One season. The move marked a significant vote of confidence from the team.
The early stages of his career have shown promise. Antonelli’s first year was inconsistent, displaying both flashes of brilliance and moments that reflected his lack of experience. Still, there were enough positives to suggest he could grow into the role.
Fast forward to 2026, and Antonelli has made noticeable improvements. He currently leads George Russell by 20 points in the championship standings. This weekend, it’s Russell who finds himself under pressure as he looks to slow down Antonelli’s momentum.
On Friday, Russell took Sprint pole with a lap time of 1:12. 965 – just 0. 068 seconds ahead of Antonelli.
Bernie Collins raises question about Kimi Antonelli ahead of European races Bernie Collins, speaking during Friday’s coverage from Montreal on Sky Sports F1 , discussed how the 2026 season has started for Kimi Antonelli . “In 2025, there were a lot of question marks. Was he too young?