Max Verstappen has a simple yet valuable message for Kimi Antonelli: relax. The Red Bull driver believes the current Formula 1 championship leader is "flying" and doesn't need to worry about the pressure of a title fight.
Antonelli, just 20 years old, has racked up eight wins this season—one more than his Mercedes teammate George Russell has achieved in his entire 166-race F1 career. His lead at the top of the standings is 81 points over Russell, with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton 101 points adrift. This impressive form has impressed many, including Verstappen.
"Kimi just needs to do what he's doing," Verstappen told the media, including RacingNews365. "It's fantastic, it's working really well. He should not stress about it too much, which I don't think he is. He's just delivering, he's confident, he's getting more and more experience. He's still young, he's still very early in his career, but he's flying, and it's just working. So he shouldn't overcomplicate things. He's not doing that. He has a lot of good people around him who know what he needs. So, it's all working well."
Verstappen's praise echoes that of Toto Wolff, who has repeatedly cautioned against burdening his young driver with historical comparisons, including to Verstappen himself. "You can't compare a four-time world champion with a rookie in his second Formula 1 year who has only won a little over a handful of races," Wolff said. "Besides, you shouldn't put too much pressure on Kimi."
Wolff also highlighted Antonelli's calm demeanor as key to his performances. "His youth helps him a lot because he's 20. He could stay in this sport for 20 years with so many opportunities. He's so above all of our expectations and his own. He's just going with the flow. I think there is also a genetic factor. You are born cool as a cucumber, or you're not."
Antonelli himself admits he has learned to manage pressure after enduring a difficult European stretch as a rookie last year. "I try to embrace the pressure as much as possible, because I don't want to let the pressure destroy me like it did last year in the European season," he said. Now, with eight wins and a large lead, Antonelli appears increasingly mature and ready for the rest of the season.
With plenty of races remaining, Antonelli's focus is on consistency. Verstappen believes the young Italian doesn't need to change his approach. "He doesn't need to change anything. He just needs to keep doing what he's doing," Verstappen asserted. Advice from a four-time world champion is certainly extra motivation for Antonelli in his pursuit of a first title.
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