According to Nico Rosberg, Toto Wolff should extend Kimi Antonelli’s contract to boost his confidence.
Photo: Sam Bloxham
The Italian driver has been struggling in recent races, and the fact that he doesn’t have a contract for next season certainly doesn’t help. According to Rosberg, that might be the reason behind his recent drop in form. He also mentioned that Toto Wolff should extend the contract with the 18-year-old rookie as soon as possible—ideally already this weekend at Spa—to strengthen his confidence.
At the same time, Kimi failed to make it out of Q1 for the second time this weekend. It’s also worth noting that there has been long-standing speculation about Max Verstappen potentially joining the team, which would mean that either George or Kimi would have to make way. Rosberg told Sky Sports F1:
"In Australia, he almost finished on the podium from way back there [16th]. He finished fourth, if I'm not mistaken. And yes, he can do the same tomorrow, why not?
"If the conditions are really mixed and up and down and all over the place, then everything's possible. Nevertheless, I mean, it really hurts me to see him in an interview like that because I can super relate how tough and how horrible the moment is for him.
"George, again, is P6 and he's down all the way almost at the end of the grid. It's so, so tough, you know. Everybody's criticising you and looking at you a little bit negatively.
"Internally then, you know, in the team, it's a very, very difficult dynamic. And he doesn't have a contract for next year either. So his whole dream at some point is also at play here. And it's really a horrible, difficult moment."
Photo: Erik Junius
Then he added: "What I may do in Toto's case, I would sign that contract with him. Anyway, it's not much money. And that would give him such a boost of confidence.
"And then if by any chance it really goes bad towards the end of the year, you can still pay him out and make a change, you know, as we've always seen in F1. But just signing that contract would give him certainly this one-step change of comfort, relaxation, time. I think that could be something interesting."
Natalie Pinkham about signing "literally this weekend,"
Rosberg said: "Yeah, yeah. Go for it. Sign the paper. Because it's not much money. So worst case, if everything goes wrong, Toto can still get out of the contract."