Max Verstappen has been impressed by the potential of Kimi Antonelli, despite the Italian’s underwhelming rookie F1 season so far with Mercedes which has continued at Monza
Max Verstappen said he “sees himself” in Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. The four-time Formula 1 champion admitted that the teenager “can do better” than his current results, but also believes the mistakes the Italian racer is making are understandable given his circumstances.
Antonelli’s ascent through the junior open-wheel categories was subjected to more excitement and scrutiny than any young driver since Verstappen. And, just over six months after he was elevated straight from Formula Regional machinery into Formula 2, he was confirmed as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement at Mercedes.
The Bologna-born sensation’s maiden campaign began impressively with a fourth-place result in challenging conditions on his debut in Melbourne, followed by three sixth-place finishes in the subsequent four races.
Nevertheless, in the past nine Grands Prix leading into this weekend’s race at Monza, he has managed just two top-10 showings. And his outings have also been littered with errors.
At Zandvoort last Sunday, he clashed with Charles Leclerc at turn three, eliminating the Ferrari driver from the Grand Prix, and he crashed heavily into Verstappen at the beginning of the Austrian Grand Prix in July. At Monza on Friday, he beached his Mercedes in the gravel which did his preparation for the race no favours.
Despite those incidents, Verstappen said he still has faith in Antonelli’s potential. “Making mistakes in your first season in F1 is part of the equation,” the reigning F1 champion said in Monza, reports the Express.
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“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.”
Despite a challenging rookie year, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff remains confident that his young star Antonelli can overcome his mistakes and reach his full potential. The Italian driver is expected to receive a contract extension, alongside team-mate George Russell, providing him with another year to impress.
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But Antonelli will need to step up his game in 2026. With Wolff still keen on bringing Verstappen to Mercedes and Russell proving his worth as a team leader, the young driver could find himself under threat if a move materialises.
“Kimi, 18 years old, thrown in this mammoth of a team, representing Mercedes, he’s going to make mistakes,” Wolff admitted at Monza. “Hopefully, less mistakes next year and scoring bigger points. But my 100 percent belief is in him in the long term, and that is just part of the learning.”