F1 | Unexpected Max Verstappen message boosts Kimi Antonelli’s morale. Max Verstappen supports Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli during a challenging debut season.

F1 | Verstappen surprises everyone: the unexpected message for Kimi Antonelli

Max Verstappen has taken a stand regarding Kimi Antonelli’s difficult start in Formula 1. The Mercedes rookie is experiencing a debut season far from straightforward. After the initial excitement of the first races and a historic podium in Canada, Antonelli’s year has become a path filled with challenges: mistakes due to inexperience, unlucky incidents, and a car that hasn’t always allowed him to perform at his best.

Yet, during this delicate phase, Antonelli has received unexpected support from a rival who knows well the weight of criticism and pressure: Max Verstappen.

The reigning world champion did not hesitate to defend the Italian, emphasizing that mistakes are part of the growth process: “Making mistakes in your first year is normal. What I like about him is that he never settles, he always gives his all. I see a lot of myself in this attitude. He just needs a little patience, the results will come.”

This encouragement is particularly significant considering that Verstappen himself was involved in one of Antonelli’s most notorious errors: the first-lap contact at the Austrian Grand Prix. Yet the Dutchman does not appear to hold a grudge. On the contrary, he points out that starting in a top team like Mercedes, without the guarantee of a winning car, makes everything even more complex.

Support from Russell within Mercedes

Support for Antonelli is also evident inside the Brackley garage. George Russell has highlighted the rookie’s clear progress: while qualifying gaps were significant at the start, they have now decreased. “You have to look at the season as a whole, not just at the mistakes,” said the English driver, encouraging his teammate to maintain confidence. Mercedes, for its part, continues to back the rookie despite the inevitable challenges.

Antonelli has already demonstrated speed and courage. Now, what he needs most is stability. Perhaps the unexpected support from Max Verstappen will provide the right boost to face the rest of the season with greater serenity, allowing him to demonstrate, step by step, the talent that everyone has already begun to notice.