Max Verstappen Hails Kimi Antonelli: 'Never a Doubt'

Max Verstappen has heaped praise on rival Kimi Antonelli, who has taken the Formula 1 world by storm in his sophomore season. The Red Bull driver revealed he had spotted Antonelli's immense potential back in his karting days.

The 19-year-old Mercedes driver has already claimed six wins this year and holds a 50-point lead over Lewis Hamilton in the drivers' standings. That achievement is all the more remarkable given his difficult rookie campaign in 2025, which included four DNFs and a mid-season slump.

Yet Verstappen insists Antonelli's stellar form is no surprise. "When he was still in go-karting, you could already see that he was one of the standout talents," Verstappen said. "You grow from the junior categories into the senior categories. What was also very impressive, and I always say that drivers should do this before they go to cars, is to at least do a few races in a shifter category to learn a bit how to use the gears, how to race and how to do starts."

Baca JugaMax Verstappen Ungkap Keyakinannya pada Bakat Belgia Dries van Langendonck

A Rapid Rise

Verstappen highlighted how Antonelli impressed from his very first race among the big names in karting. "His first race, he immediately pulled it off between the big guns in go-karting. At that young age, you can see that raw talent, and then it just continued into cars," he added.

The Dutchman also noted that Antonelli's quick jump to F1 was natural, despite the inevitable rookie mistakes. "He also made quite a quick jump to F1, and it’s normal that in your first year there are certain mistakes that you make. I think we all make them," Verstappen said.

While many may be taken aback by Antonelli's current position at the top of the standings, Verstappen believes it's a natural progression. "Of course, when you’re driving for a top team, it’s always highlighted a little bit more," he said. "But for me, there was never a doubt that he would make a jump the year after and already be a lot more consistently competitive. It’s normal in the progression of a driver. In your rookie season it can be quite tough, but at the moment, of course, he’s doing an amazing job."