Max Verstappen has been effusive in his praise for Kimi Antonelli, describing the young Italian's displays as "rock solid" and noting how they have propelled him to the summit of the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers' Championship during the first half of the campaign. At just 19 years old and only in his sophomore season at the pinnacle of motorsport, Antonelli has dominated the points table since the end of March, maintaining a comfortable 50‑point cushion over Ferrari veteran Lewis Hamilton as the sport entered its summer hiatus. The breakthrough came when Antonelli joined Verstappen as the only teenager in F1 history to claim a Grand Prix victory, clinching his inaugural win at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Since that landmark achievement, the Mercedes‑affiliated prodigy has added five more triumphs to his record, reinforcing his status as a rising star. When asked after the Hungarian Grand Prix which driver had delivered the most impressive performance in the opening phase of the season, Verstappen singled out Antonelli without hesitation. "If you look at the front of the grid, Kimi has done an outstanding job," Verstappen said during the post‑race press conference, where he sat alongside Antonelli and race winner Lando Norris.
"He’s been incredibly strong, remarkably consistent, and arguably the strongest driver in the team right now." Verstappen continued, acknowledging that the teenager has also faced a degree of misfortune. "He’s had a few unlucky moments, which is a shame, but for a 19‑year‑old to be that dependable is remarkable.
He’s been rock solid throughout the season so far." The Dutch champion added a personal note, describing Antonelli as both a pleasant individual and a formidable competitor. "It’s impressive to see such talent from someone outside the usual circle.
This year has felt like a jungle, but when the car behaves nicely you can really enjoy it – although most of the time the car is a bit demanding, especially when you’re low on battery power. Overall, Antonelli’s performance has been very strong.
He’s a nice guy and a very strong driver, which makes for a great combination." Lando Norris, the victor in Hungary, was asked the same question and echoed Verstappen’s admiration. "Kimi is a complete package," Norris remarked. "He’s got a fantastic car and he’s been crushing his teammate every weekend.
When you talk about a championship, you have to give credit to Kimi." Norris also reflected on the competitive landscape, noting that a good car can make a driver feel unbeatable. "When I have a car like today, I feel like nobody can beat me.
We’ll all say we’re the best, but ultimately it comes down to the machinery and how you extract performance from it. Right now, you have three of the best drivers on the grid, including Kimi, and the rest are also doing incredible work." Antonelli himself offered a modest assessment of his first half of the season.
"I don’t really like judging myself, but I feel I’ve had a solid start," 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 two drivers ahead of me, but I’m pleased with my progress.
There’s still a lot of work to do." His rapid rise and consistent form in Mercedes’ championship‑leading machine have turned the spotlight onto him as the most likely title contender, even surpassing his more experienced teammate George Russell, who entered the season as the bookmakers' pre‑season favourite. However, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff cautioned against declaring Antonelli the outright favourite so early in the campaign. "It’s too early to say," Wolff warned.
"We still have twelve races left. A single DNF can swing the standings dramatically, and we haven’t been perfect on reliability.
We need to maximise every day from Friday through Sunday. Hopefully, that will be enough by the end of the season." Looking ahead, the Formula 1 calendar resumes after the summer break with a sprint weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix, scheduled for 21‑23 August. All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, and fans can stream the coverage via NOW with a flexible, contract‑free subscription. The continuation of the season promises further drama as Antonelli, Verstappen, Norris, and the rest of the grid vie for points, each hoping to capitalize on their cars' strengths and avoid the pitfalls that have already cost rivals earlier in the year.
The narrative of a teenage driver challenging seasoned champions adds an extra layer of intrigue to what remains an unpredictable and fiercely contested championship.