Max Verstappen has praised the “rock solid” performances that have taken Kimi Antonelli to the top of Formula 1’s Drivers’ Championship over the first half of the 2026 season.

The 19-year-old Antonelli, who is in just his second season at motorsport’s top level, has led the standings since the end of March and held a 50-point lead over Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton as the sport broke for summer.

Antonelli joined Verstappen as the only driver to win a race as a teenager in the sport’s history when he won his maiden Grand Prix in China – with the Mercedes protege, who turns 20 on August 25, since adding five more wins to his tally.

And Verstappen, who has a friendly relationship with Antonelli, picked the championship leader when asked after the Hungarian Grand Prix which driver had produced the best performance in the season’s first phase.

“I think, if you look at the front, Kimi has done a really good job,” said Verstappen, who was sitting alongside Antonelli and race winner Lando Norris in the post-race press conference.

“Really strong, really solid, being the strongest in the team.

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Speaking ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, championship leader Kimi Antonelli admitted he could do with recharging the batteries as he bids to win a maiden world title this season.

“I think, if he just keeps it going – of course, he’s also been very unlucky sometimes, so that’s been, I guess, a bit of a shame – but as a 19-year-old, so far, I think he’s been rock solid.

“So, that’s really impressive to see as an outsider, I guess.

“For me, it’s definitely been a bit of a jungle this year, but I’m just trying to enjoy it where I can. Of course, when the car is a bit nicer to drive, you can enjoy it a little bit more, even though, most of the time, you don’t really enjoy it. But that has more to do with other stuff, you know, when you’re a bit flat on battery.

“But, yeah, overall, a very strong performance [from Antonelli]. It’s nice to see. He’s, first of all, a nice guy and a very strong driver, so that’s a good combination.”

Hungarian GP victor Norris answered the same question and also reserved praise for Antonelli, who leads the more experienced George Russell at Mercedes by 59 points after 11 races.

“I think you have to say Kimi, as a complete package,” said Norris.

“They have a great car, and he’s done an incredible job, convincingly beating his team-mate every single weekend. So, when you’re talking about a championship, you have to give credit to Kimi.

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Kimi Antonelli overtakes Lewis Hamilton for the lead of the British GP Sprint.

“But, you know, when I have a good car like today [in Hungary], I feel like no one’s going to beat me. So, we’ll probably all say each other, but it just depends on how good the car is and things like that. I think you probably have, in front of you, three of the best drivers in Formula 1.

“There are still plenty of others, but it’s impossible to really compare these things. I think everyone who’s sat here is doing an incredible job and probably getting the most out of the car, and that’s what you can really ask for.”

As for his own assessment, Antonelli said: “I don’t really like judging, but I feel like I’ve done a good first half.

“But, as Lando and Max said, it’s really hard to compare car to car. I think there’s still a long way before I reach their level, the two drivers next to me. So, I feel like I’m doing a great job, but there’s still a long way to reach their level.

“So, still lots of work to do.”

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Highlights from the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Wolff: Still ‘too early to say’ Antonelli title favourite

Such has been Antonelli’s fast and consistent form in Mercedes’ championship-leading car this year that it is the teenager and not team-mate Russell, the clear pre-season bookmakers’ title favourite, who now appears clearly the driver most likely to claim this season’s championship.

Not that Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ team principal, agrees with suggestions that Antonelli is title favourite yet given there are still as many as 12 races to go this season.

“It’s too early to say,” said Wolff.

“There’s so many races to go. A DNF or two can just swing massively and we’ve not been great on reliability, so we just have to continue to maximise every single day from the Friday onwards to the Sunday.

“Hopefully at the end, that will be enough.”

The Formula 1 season resumes after the summer break with a Sprint weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix from August 21-23, with every session live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime