Max Verstappen has lauded the "rock‑solid" displays that have propelled Kimi Antonelli to the summit of the Formula 1 Drivers' Championship during the opening half of the 2026 campaign. The 19‑year‑old Italian, now only in his sophomore year at the sport's pinnacle, seized the lead in late March and entered the summer hiatus with a comfortable 50‑point cushion over veteran Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton. Antonelli's rapid ascent has already produced a historic milestone: he became only the second teenager in F1 history to claim a Grand Prix victory, joining the ranks of the legendary Mercedes prodigy who turned 20 on August 25.
His maiden win came in the Chinese Grand Prix, where he out‑finished a field that included several seasoned champions, and he has added five more triumphs to his record since that breakthrough. When asked after the Hungarian Grand Prix which competitor had delivered the most impressive performance in the first half of the season, Verstappen did not hesitate to point to the championship leader.
"If you look at the front of the grid, Kimi has done an outstanding job," the Dutch driver said, seated alongside Antonelli and race winner Lando Norris during the post‑race press conference. "He’s been incredibly strong, remarkably consistent, and the strongest driver in the team right now." Verstappen continued, noting that despite a few bouts of bad luck – "a bit of a shame," he admitted – the teenager has shown a maturity beyond his years.
"At 19, he’s been rock solid," Verstappen asserted. "That level of composure is impressive, especially for someone still so young." The Dutchman also reflected on the challenges of the season, describing it as "a bit of a jungle" and emphasizing the importance of enjoying the sport whenever possible.
He added that a car that feels pleasant to drive can make the experience more rewarding, though he acknowledged that many factors, such as battery management, can affect that enjoyment. "Overall, Antonelli’s performance has been very strong. He’s a nice guy and a very capable driver – a winning combination," Verstappen concluded.
Lando Norris, the victor in Hungary, echoed Verstappen’s praise when asked the same question. "Kimi is a complete package," Norris said.
"He’s got a great car and he’s been beating his teammate every weekend, which is extraordinary. When you talk about a championship, you have to give credit to Kimi." Norris also highlighted the role of machinery, noting that on a day when his own car felt perfect, he felt unbeatable.
"We’ll all say we’re the best, but it really comes down to how good the car is," he explained, adding that the current field includes three of the sport’s top drivers, with many others also delivering impressive performances. Antonelli, when asked to assess his own showing, was modest. "I don’t like to judge myself, but I think I’ve had a good first half," he said.
"As Lando and Max mentioned, it’s hard to compare cars directly. There’s still a long way before I reach the level of the drivers next to me, but I feel I’m doing a great job and there’s still a lot of work to do." The teenager’s consistency in the Mercedes that currently leads the championship has shifted the pre‑season betting odds. While bookmakers initially favored his teammate George Russell as the title favourite, Antonelli’s form has made him the most likely candidate to clinch the championship at this stage.
However, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff cautioned against jumping to conclusions, reminding everyone that the season still has twelve races remaining. "It’s too early to say," Wolff warned. "A single DNF can swing the standings dramatically, and we’ve had reliability issues.
We need to maximise every day from Friday through Sunday. Hopefully that will be enough in the end." Looking ahead, the championship will resume after the summer break with a sprint weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix from August 21‑23.
All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, and fans can stream the coverage via NOW without a contract, with the option to cancel at any time. The upcoming races promise to test the durability of both drivers and machinery, and the battle for the title is set to intensify as the calendar moves toward its climax. Antonelli’s youthful vigor, combined with his evident talent and the support of teammates like Verstappen and Norris, suggests that the remainder of the season will be filled with compelling storylines and high‑stakes competition.