Kimi Antonelli has expressed his admiration for Max Verstappen's unique ability, calling it an "incredible vision" on track. According to the young Mercedes driver, Verstappen possesses a sharp instinct for reading race situations and positioning his car, something rarely seen in other drivers.
The praise came after Verstappen's impressive performance at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Despite starting from an unfavourable position, the four-time world champion surged forward and nearly snatched victory in the closing stages. Meanwhile, Antonelli had to settle for fifth place after a qualifying crash forced him to start from 16th.
"Max has really incredible vision during a race, on how to position the car," Antonelli told media, including Motorsport Week. He then recalled his experience in Madrid, at the second chicane, when he tried to overtake Lando Norris around the outside. "My mistake there was to let him by straight away because I knew Max was going on the outside in that corner. He saw the opportunity and went for it," he added.
Antonelli also admired Verstappen and Red Bull's ability to fight back from difficult situations, even when the RB22 lacks performance. "Seeing him so close on the track, it's how well he can flip situations even when they're not looking good," he said. He remembered the third free practice session in Monaco this year, where Red Bull looked far back, but Verstappen almost put it on pole in qualifying.
What makes Verstappen special, according to Antonelli, is the element of surprise he always brings, especially in free practice. "You don't really know his full potential. But when it matters, he always finds something more, which is really fascinating to see," he said.
For Antonelli, learning from Max Verstappen is a valuable opportunity. He is becoming more aware of the traits that make the Red Bull driver one of the most successful in F1 history. This knowledge will undoubtedly be a valuable asset when he competes closely on track.
Meanwhile, the performance of Mercedes and Red Bull remains in the spotlight ahead of the next race. If Verstappen continues to show his class, it's not impossible that he will liven up the title fight this season.
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