Toto Wolff 'doesn't think much of Valtteri Bottas' as Kimi Antonelli replacement named

Former Formula One driver Ralf Schumacher believes that Mercedes should look to Carlos Sainz as a short-term replacement for Kimi Antonelli. The ex-Williams man also claimed that Toto Wolff 'doesn't think much' of Valtteri Bottas, or else he would have offered him a race seat.

Antonelli is enduring a challenging rookie season and, heading into this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix, remains without a contract for the 2026 campaign. The teenager has scored points in just three of the last 10 race weekends, and only one of those results was higher than ninth place. These struggles have raised questions about his viability as a long-term prospect for Mercedes. With Max Verstappen on the radar for a switch in 2027, team principal Wolff faces some uncomfortable decisions about the 19-year-old's future.

According to Schumacher, a ready-made replacement is already available and on the market, should Wolff decide that a short-term change is necessary. "Well, a rookie for Mercedes is fine anyway, let's say now in the season where they were and in this development phase, you can do that," he told Formel1.de.

"But there's nobody big on the market at the moment where you'd say, I absolutely have to have him now, most of them are all sorted. And obviously, Toto Wolff doesn't think much of Bottas, otherwise he would have kept him. You have to say that, sorry about that.

"So it's difficult. Yes, the George Russell issue is a bit surprising, but maybe there'll be a twist at some point, the punchline as to why they're waiting so long, because I think Mercedes must be happy to have him by now, but there's no alternative.

For the latest breaking stories and headlines, sign up to our Daily Express F1 newsletter, or join our WhatsApp community here.

"So, they have to see it through for another year, and then they'll have to see how things go. I think Carlos Sainz would be available at any time. I mean, there seem to be some clauses, I don't know exactly, at least that's what you hear. He would certainly be the first person that comes to mind."

While Bottas was overlooked for a second Mercedes full-time race seat by Wolff, the 36-year-old was headhunted by Graeme Lowdon to form one half of Cadillac's first-ever F1 driver line-up for the 2026 season, alongside six-time Grand Prix winner Sergio Perez.

However, the Finn will be under immediate pressure to perform. With IndyCar prodigy Colton Herta waiting in the wings as he hunts down the required FIA super license points in Formula Two next year, one of Bottas and Perez is likely to be shuffled aside after one year with the American squad.