Max Verstappen believes newly crowned Formula 1 world champion Andrea Kimi Antonelli will remain humble despite his extraordinary success with Mercedes. Speaking ahead of the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix, the Red Bull driver praised the young Italian’s personality while reflecting on his own team’s remarkable resurgence, which has brought him back into contention for victories and second place in the Drivers’ Championship.
After spending several months struggling to compete at the front, Verstappen has returned to winning form thanks to substantial improvements in Red Bull’s competitiveness. The Dutchman now arrives at Interlagos as one of the favourites, having secured nine podium finishes in the last ten Grands Prix and victories in Malaysia, Singapore and Mexico over the past month.
Max Verstappen targets Brazilian GP victory after Red Bull resurgence
For several months, Max Verstappen resembled a sleeping predator, unable to do what he does best: win races. However, partly thanks to his own technical feedback, Red Bull gradually improved its car. The team’s first major step forward with the new generation of Formula 1 machinery brought Verstappen back into regular podium contention and, more recently, onto the top step.
Now comes Interlagos, a circuit where the Dutchman has produced two memorable recovery drives in recent editions of the Brazilian Grand Prix. His previous performances have given him particularly fond memories of the venue, while his personal connection to Brazil adds further significance to the weekend.
“It’s a fantastic circuit, which sometimes produces crazy races. I’m always happy to race here, both because Brazil is part of my extended family and because I have good memories here, with some great comeback drives,” Verstappen explained during the São Paulo Grand Prix press conference.
“The type of corners makes for better racing. There’s some elevation change in certain places, and the way the corners flow into one another also gives you more opportunities if you take different lines. Then, of course, if the weather comes into play, that’s another factor that helps create a better spectacle.”
Although Verstappen is regarded as a leading contender for victory, he expects an extremely competitive battle at the front. With several teams closely matched, the Dutchman believes car set-up and energy management could make the difference.
“It’s difficult to make a prediction because the leading cars are very close together. It depends on the set-up and energy deployment. We’ll try to be at the front. In any case, I’m happy that neither I nor the team ever gave up. We’re now making much better use of the power unit, and the car has become very competitive.”
The improvement represents an important turnaround for Red Bull after a difficult beginning to the 2026 campaign. Earlier in the season, Verstappen had also joked about Red Bull’s starting difficulties, highlighting another area of the team’s performance that had attracted attention.
Max Verstappen praises Kimi Antonelli’s humility after historic F1 title
During the press conference, Verstappen was also asked about Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who has just become Formula 1 world champion following a dominant season with Mercedes. The Dutchman believes the Italian’s first championship will not fundamentally change his personality, despite the increased attention and commitments that come with such an achievement.
“It’s always very special. Obviously, in the days afterwards, you have lots of commitments, which isn’t great, but you’re still happy because you’ve won. He seems like a very normal and humble guy to me. I don’t think he’ll change very much.”
Antonelli’s championship victory has been a historic moment for Italian motorsport, ending Italy’s 73-year wait for another Formula 1 Drivers’ World Championship. The young Mercedes driver has also spoken about the emotions surrounding his achievement and his ambitions for the future, insisting that his first world title is only the beginning.
Verstappen battles Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for second in F1 standings
While Antonelli has already secured the championship, the fight for second place in the Drivers’ standings remains extremely close. Verstappen has won three of the last four Grands Prix, allowing him to climb into second position with a two-point advantage over Lewis Hamilton and an 11-point lead over George Russell.
It is a remarkable recovery for a driver who was only ninth in the championship after the third race of the season at Suzuka, when Red Bull was struggling badly with its new car. His resurgence has transformed the battle behind Antonelli and given the Dutchman a realistic opportunity to finish the season as runner-up.
With Interlagos next on the calendar, Verstappen will be hoping that Red Bull’s improved competitiveness, combined with his strong record at the Brazilian circuit, can help him strengthen his advantage over Hamilton and Russell in the closing stages of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
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