24/06/2025 18:20
Red Bull's handling of young drivers has been criticised by Davide
Valsecchi, after Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli took a maiden F1 podium.
After a bright start to his career as Lewis Hamilton's replacement,
including fourth on debut in Australia, fastest lap in Japan and
Sprint race pole in Miami, Antonelli's form wavered over the second
triple-header, not scoring any points across Imola-Monaco-Spain,
although that run was bookended by two car failures. In Montreal,
Antonelli scooped a first F1 podium, the first for an Italian since
Jarno Trulli at the 2009 Japanese Grand Prix, when Antonelli was
three years old. Mercedes has protected Antonelli through his
rookie season thus far, and even when he crashed at Monza in 2024
on his FP1 debut, leaving the car looking like a "Lego box",
according to Toto Wolff. In contrast, Red Bull has earned a
reputation of burning young drivers at the senior team, with Pierre
Gasly, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson, and now Yuki Tsunoda all struggling
at the senior team during their spells. It was something 2013 GP2
champion Valsecchi picked up on. "I am very happy for Kimi, he
even managed to match George Russel's lap times for a long time
during the race. "We should be grateful to Mercedes, for the way
they work with Antonelli, they know how to manage the pressure on
him well, and that's the best way for a future champion, or at
least a future top driver. "I think that's really very clever of
Mercedes, especially if you look at how Red Bull occasionally puts
pressure on their drivers. "You can do that with someone like Max
Verstappen or Fernando Alonso, but not with another driver at a
young age. You have to give those guys stability, give them
confidence, and that's what Mercedes did with Antonelli. "They
took a risk to put him directly in the Mercedes, but they gave him
confidence and stability, and we are already seeing the result of
that." The article continues below. Comparison to Jannik Sinner
The driver-turned-pundit Valsecchi also pointed to fellow Italian
Jannik Sinner as evidence for what Antonelli can turn into. Sinner
has emerged as one of the next generation of male Tennis players
after the Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy
Murray era ended, recently playing out an all-time classic in the
French Open final against Carlos Alcaraz, another of the next
generation. Valsecchi believes Antonelli has the "best" boss to
learn from under Wolff. "Toto is the best team boss for young
drivers, in my opinion. He showed that with the choice of
Antonelli, especially when Antonelli crashed the car during free
practice at Monza. "Wolff immediately said: 'No problem, that boy
will just drive for me next year'. "That shows something, and
after 10 races in Formula 1, Antonelli is already on the podium. I
don't want to be too positive, but I must say that I just feel
something good. "After all, I think Kimi is taking the right steps
forward now, just as Jannik Sinner has done over the years to work
his way to the top step by step. "With time, the same will happen
with Kimi, step by step, he advantage of time on his side and in
Canada so far he drove one of his best races and at exactly the
right time. "That often means something when a driver is there at
the right time."
