Max Verstappen praises Kimi Antonelli's 2026 season performance

Max Verstappen has commended Kimi Antonelli for his strong showing in the 2026 season to date. Antonelli, currently leading the championship, scored his first Grand Prix victory in China and has had five consecutive wins. Despite facing setbacks such as a mechanical failure in Barcelona and reliability issues at Silverstone, he maintains a 50-point lead over Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen, in sixth place and trailing by 110 points, acknowledged Antonelli's solid performance and expressed confidence in his ability to sustain this level. As the season resumes, Verstappen noted that Red Bull needs to improve its performance and address inconsistencies.