F1 | Wolff: “Giovinazzi will not disappear from F1 radars”

After announcing Valtteri Bottas as the new pilot of the Mercedes in place of Nico Rosberg, the team principal of the Brackley team Toto wolff expressed his opinion on another really promising driver, who could give Formula 1 a show in the future. It's about Antonio Giovinazzi, the Italian who in his debut season he almost won the GP2 Title, taken from him at the last race in Abu Dhabi by Pierre Gasly, but which for this reason was not diminished in the eyes of experts. The feat achieved by the driver from Martina Franca was followed with interest by several top teams, including Mercedes itself, who sensed the potential.

The German team had proposed to the Italian to race a season of DTM, to follow a path similar to that of pascal wehrlein, but the offer was declined by Giovinazzi, who was eventually signed by Ferrari as a reserve pilot. Wolff, questioned in this regard by the Gazzetta dello Sport, is convinced that Antonio's talent will not remain bogged down behind the scenes of the Circus.

The manager was asked if the GP2 vice champion would immediately find a seat in Mercedes, referring to the debut, during 2016, of the two Manor drivers now promoted to Clean e Force India. “But Giovinazzi has never driven a Formula 1 – explained Wolff – so he cannot be compared to Wehrlein and Or with. Pascal won the DTM and then spent a season in F1, while Esteban won titles in GP3 and Formula 3."

Toto wolff however, he is convinced that the Italian has what it takes to have a brilliant career in the top category, without disappearing from F1 radars, taking his new teammate as a touchstone Lewis Hamilton. “A great example is Valtteri Bottas. He was the third driver of the Williams for a year, before becoming their pilot."

Lorenzo Lucidi