Verstappen Applauds Antonelli's Strong Start to 2026 Season

Max Verstappen has lauded Mercedes' rising star, Kimi Antonelli, for his standout performance in the 2026 Formula 1 season so far. The Dutchman, who knows a thing or two about leading a championship, described Antonelli's efforts as 'really impressive' and noted his 'rock solid' presence on the track.

Antonelli's season kicked off with a bang, claiming his first Grand Prix victory in China and following it up with five successive wins. This remarkable run has seen him become the youngest driver to lead the Drivers' standings, a feat not easily achieved in the fiercely competitive world of F1.

Of course, it hasn't all been smooth sailing. Antonelli faced a couple of hiccups, including a DNF in Barcelona due to mechanical issues and another reliability concern at Silverstone that saw him drop out of the points. Yet, he still maintains a comfortable 50-point lead over his closest rival, Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen, who finds himself in a less enviable position this year in sixth place, 110 points adrift from Antonelli, took the opportunity after securing second place at the Hungarian Grand Prix to highlight the young driver's achievements. "If you look at the front, Kimi has done a really good job," Verstappen remarked. "He's been really strong and solid, the strongest in his team."

The Red Bull driver also acknowledged the challenges Antonelli has faced, attributing some of them to sheer bad luck. "As a 19-year-old, he's been rock solid. That's really impressive to see as an outsider," Verstappen added. "He's a nice guy and a very strong driver, which is a good combination."

For Verstappen and Red Bull, the season has presented its own set of challenges. The team has struggled to match the pace of Antonelli and Mercedes at several races. Verstappen candidly outlined the team's objectives for the rest of the season: "We need to first find more overall performance. Then we need to address the issues where we lose performance over a weekend or even from the start to the end of a race. That's a big priority."

Despite the hurdles, Verstappen seems to be taking it all in stride, aiming to enjoy the ride as much as possible. "For me, it's been a bit of a jungle this year, but I'm just trying to enjoy it where I can," he noted, hinting at the ever-present unpredictability in the sport.

As the season resumes, all eyes will be on Antonelli to see if he can maintain his lead and continue his impressive run, while Verstappen and the rest of the grid will be keen to close the gap.