The Dutch driver wanted to acknowledge the young Italian talent, with whom he has always shared an excellent relationship, applauding him after his victory.
Verstappen’s compliments
The strong bond between Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen is well known in the Formula 1 paddock, so it was no surprise that on Sunday in China, one of the happiest people celebrating the very first career victory of the young Mercedes driver was the #3 Red Bull driver himself.
After a disastrous weekend—ending without points and with a quiet retirement—one of Max Verstappen’s few smiles in the post-race interviews was dedicated to Antonelli. Speaking to journalists in Shanghai, when asked for his thoughts on the first F1 win of the Mercedes prodigy, Max Verstappen stated firmly: “Not surprised. I had said it would come, and it won’t be his last.” This was a show of respect that stood apart from the fact that the Bolognese driver currently has one of the best cars on the grid.
The four-time world champion also applauded Antonelli in an Instagram post shortly after the Chinese Grand Prix, where he briefly commented on the outcome of the Shanghai race: “It wasn’t our weekend… – wrote Verstappen – big congratulations to Kimi Antonelli.”
Max Verstappen’s endorsement therefore carries significant weight. As a driver who rewrote the history books as a teenager himself, his belief that this is only the first of many wins for Antonelli can be seen as a warning to the rest of the field. For the fans, seeing such genuine respect between a legendary champion and a future star adds a layer of class to the intense competition of modern Formula 1.
Leave a Reply