Max Verstappen praises Kimi Antonelli's racing talent and progress
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 14, 2026, 1:01 PM
Last updated Aug 14, 2026
Max Verstappen commended Kimi Antonelli for his impressive performance in the current championship, where Antonelli leads the drivers' standings. Heading into the summer break, Antonelli holds a 50-point advantage over Lewis Hamilton and 59 points over teammate George Russell. Verstappen recognized Antonelli's raw talent and early success in go-karting, noting his swift transition to Formula 1. He remarked on the challenges faced in a rookie season while praising Antonelli's current competitiveness.
- •Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers' standings by 50 points over Lewis Hamilton.
- •Antonelli has quickly become competitive in his rookie F1 season.
- •Max Verstappen has been impressed by Antonelli's talent since go-karting.
- •Verstappen acknowledges the learning curve for new drivers in F1.
- •Antonelli and Verstappen previously shared a podium at the Belgian GP.
- 1:01 PMYahoo Sports — Verstappen never had doubts about Antonelli: 'I knew he'd make a jump'
"Max Verstappen has been impressed by championship leader Kimi Antonelli for some time. Entering the summer break, Antonelli has a commanding lead in the drivers' standings.
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