Champion’s tip to rising star: Verstappen’s message to Antonelli

Max Verstappen’s takeaway from Kimi Antonelli’s remarkable run to second place in the São Paulo Grand Prix was simple: the Mercedes rookie is the real deal.

The four-time world champion, who finished third in Brazil, hot on the heels of the young Italian, made a point of praising the latter not just publicly, but directly on the Interlagos podium – a rare gesture from the Dutchman toward a newcomer still navigating the turbulence of his debut season.

Asked what guidance he would offer a young apprentice weathering the storm of early-career highs and lows, Verstappen delivered the kind of straight-talk Kimi’s season has practically begged for.

"Keep believing in yourself," he said. "In a rookie season, you go through quite an emotional rollercoaster at times. Some weekends go better than others. Sometimes you have high hopes, sometimes that doesn't work out.

"You make mistakes. You have good weekends. But at the end of the day, that's all part of the learning curve. You have to make mistakes also to become a better driver, even in Formula 1."

Antonelli has indeed seen it all in 2025 – from a Q1 exit followed by a storming P4 debut drive in Australia, to a maiden sprint pole in Miami, to the deeply challenging mid-season stretch when Mercedes’ experimental rear-suspension geometry left him wrestling a car that refused to talk back.

His Spa meltdown, where he was knocked out in both qualifying sessions and left in tears, prompted Lewis Hamilton himself to step in with reassurance.

And yet, through the chaos, the flashes of brilliance kept returning.

Podium Proof – and Verstappen’s Seal of Approval

Brazil offered the clearest proof yet that Antonelli’s talent is not only intact but maturing. The data suggests his role in the opening-lap melee was far more nuanced than some headlines claimed, while the stewards placed full blame on Piastri.

But what mattered most to Verstappen was what happened after the restart: relentless pace, smart judgement, and a performance worthy of the podium he earned.

"I think so far this year for Kimi has been a big learning curve," said Verstappen. "But at the same time he's very fast. I always saw that from every category that he was racing in. And for him to have a weekend like he had here – it was just super strong.

"He fully, of course, deserved to be on this podium today, and it also gives you a good confidence boost. The team, of course, is also helping him a lot to really exploit all the potential out of him. So he's in a very good place."

If Verstappen’s words are anything to go by, Antonelli isn’t just surviving his rookie season – he’s priming himself for something far bigger.

Read also: Wolff explains why Antonelli shines most on unfamiliar tracks

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook