'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
F1 fans are surprised by the facial similarity between Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and F2 driver Kimi Antonelli. The young Italian driver had a premature end to his FP1 session after crashing heavily at the iconic Parabolica corner in a second-timed lap in George Russell's W15.
The 18-year-old displayed his raw talent from the blocks, as he set the fastest time on his first lap in a Formula 1 car. Antonelli's time was pipped by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton after a few minutes, but in his eagerness, the F2 driver couldn't control the oversteer on the Parabolica corner.
Kimi Antonelli was apologetic on his team radio for the crash but was calmed down by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. The Austrian reassured his charge in the garage as he put his arm around him.
F1 fans took to social media to give their reactions to Wolff and Antonelli's image on X, with one claiming that the Italian looks like Wolff's son:
"Kimi seriously looks like Toto’s son."
"The angle is really giving take your kid to work day. Like he’s sitting on Toto’s knee while Toto explains what dad does all day."
"This the f1 version of this."
"No man when he told him "All good Kimi, all good" THE second time he said all good, the way his voice lowered and got gentler I swear I hollered or smth. Unreal," said a fan.
"Father and son basically," another wrote.
"George just realized he stopped being the favorite child," pointed another.
Mercedes team boss gives his take on Kimi Antonelli's crash
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said that Kimi Antonelli's crash in FP1 at the Italian GP has 'zero effect' on his chances of getting the seat at the German team next year.
In his team principal's press conference, the Austrian said:
"No, zero effect. I think the most important is to hire based on ability. And an FP1 that's gone wrong is not the reason why you decide for or against the driver. I think a strong driver needs to recover from these things and cope with the pressure. And obviously, this weekend wasn't easy for him because he still needs to compete in F2.
"You have all these shenanigans around you in Monza – an Italian kid that's being hyped for the first time in a Mercedes. And that must be a heavy burden. If he wants to be a champion one day, he needs to cope with that, and I have no doubt that he can and he will."
Kimi Antonelli recovered from his crash in the FP1 session and qualified P6 in F2 qualifying later in the day.
