Max Verstappen has thrown his support behind Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, urging fans and critics alike to keep faith in the Italian teenager as he navigates a turbulent debut season in Formula 1.
But the four-time world champion went further in explaining why he believes the young gun has what it takes to succeed in Formula 1: he sees something of himself in the Italian teenager.
Antonelli, still only 19, has endured a rollercoaster rookie campaign. While he claimed a maiden podium at the Canadian Grand Prix, errors – including a costly lock-up in Austria that ended Verstappen’s race – have defined his debut season as much as his flashes of speed.
Despite these setbacks, Verstappen remains optimistic about Antonelli’s potential. Speaking to reporters in Monza, the Red Bull charger offered his honest yet supportive assessment of this young rival’s early journey.
“Making mistakes in your first season in F1 is part of the equation,” the Dutchman said. “What I like most about him is that he doesn’t take it easy. He always gives it his all, and I see myself in him.
“Could he do better? Of course. But I know how talented he is… it shows. He just needs a little patience, like everyone else.
“It’s not easy starting with a top team, which, moreover, isn’t consistently fighting for wins. He’ll be fine, he just needs a little time.”
Antonelli’s Seat at Mercedes Secure
Despite pressure from within Mercedes, Antonelli’s seat is not under threat, according to BBC Sport’s Andrew Benson.
“Wolff’s remarks were at least partly provoked by the fact that Monza was the second race weekend in a row on which Antonelli had crashed in Friday practice and disrupted his preparations,” the veteran F1 reporter explained.
“The 19-year-old’s season started well. He steadily built his confidence in the car, and that led to his outstanding qualifying performances in Miami, where he took pole for the sprint race and out-qualified George Russell for the grand prix as well. He took a maiden podium in Canada, where Russell won.
©Mercedes
“But a change to the Mercedes rear suspension that made the car more nervous knocked his confidence, and his form has not really recovered since the team reverted to their previous design from Hungary.
“It's worth pointing out, though, that since Canada, Russell has been on the podium only once. There is no immediate threat to Antonelli's position - he will be a Mercedes driver next year.
“But he certainly needs to settle down and steadily build again,” Benson concluded.
Antonelli may be 128 points behind team-mate George Russell, but Verstappen’s belief that the Italian shares his own all-or-nothing spirit could prove more valuable than any statistic.
For the 66-time Grand Prix winner, it’s that fighting instinct – not a flawless rookie season – that marks out a future star.
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