Toto Wolff reveals two sponsors left Mercedes over Kimi Antonelli promotion

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed that two sponsors departed the team after it promoted Kimi Antonelli into Formula 1 from 2025, when he was 18 years old.

Wolff said the decision was not universally supported within the Mercedes sphere from the outset. The team's choice has since been rewarded, with Antonelli winning the world championship in only his second Formula 1 season, a result Mercedes benefited from at the Mexico Grand Prix.