Verstappen praises Antonelli’s first half of 2026

Max Verstappen has lauded championship leader Kimi Antonelli for an exceptional start to the 2026 Formula 1 season. Antonelli, who secured his first Grand Prix win in China and followed it up with five consecutive victories, currently leads the standings by 50 points over Lewis Hamilton, despite facing some mechanical setbacks. Verstappen, currently sixth in the standings, expressed his admiration for the 19-year-old's consistency, describing his performance as 'rock solid' and 'really impressive' for his age. The Red Bull driver highlighted Antonelli's composure and talent, noting that his success is a testament to both his driving ability and his character. As the season reaches its summer break, Verstappen acknowledged the struggles Red Bull has faced in matching the pace of Mercedes. He emphasized that the team's primary focus upon returning will be to improve overall vehicle performance and resolve reliability issues that have caused inconsistency throughout race weekends.