Hungarian Grand Prix winner Lando Norris and runner-up Max Verstappen each singled out Andrea Kimi Antonelli because the standout performer of the primary half of the 2026 System 1 season following Sunday’s race on the Hungaroring.
The trio, who completed first, second and third respectively in Budapest, have been requested after the race which driver they believed had extracted probably the most from the equipment at their disposal through the opening half of the marketing campaign.
Whereas Norris admitted each driver would naturally again themselves, he in the end pointed to championship chief Antonelli for the consistency he has proven all through the season.
“I feel we’ll most likely all simply say ourselves,” Norris joked. “I really feel like you may’t actually evaluate in this stuff. You’ll be able to’t actually evaluate groups in opposition to groups.”
Regardless of acknowledging how tough it’s to evaluate drivers competing in several automobiles, Norris believes Antonelli has produced probably the most full marketing campaign.
“I feel you need to say Kimi, as an entire package deal. They’ve a fantastic automobile, and he is accomplished an unimaginable job, convincingly beating his teammate each single weekend.”
“So, if you’re speaking a couple of championship, you need to give credit score to Kimi.”
Norris was additionally fast to emphasize his personal confidence, insisting that when McLaren offers him a race-winning automobile, he expects to be unbeatable. “However, you understand, when I’ve a superb automobile like right this moment, I really feel like nobody’s going to beat me.”
The reigning world champion added that evaluating drivers throughout totally different groups is sort of unattainable due to the various efficiency ranges of the automobiles.
“I feel you most likely have, in entrance of you, three of the perfect drivers in System 1. There are nonetheless loads of others, however it’s unattainable to essentially evaluate this stuff.”
“I feel everybody who’s sat right here is doing an unimaginable job and doubtless getting probably the most out of the automobile, and that is what you may actually ask for.”
Verstappen echoed Norris’ evaluation, praising the 19-year-old Mercedes driver for each his velocity and consistency throughout his breakthrough marketing campaign.
“I feel, if you happen to have a look at the entrance, Kimi has accomplished a extremely good job,” Verstappen stated. “Actually sturdy, actually stable, being the strongest within the workforce.”
The four-time world champion additionally famous that Antonelli’s factors tally might have been even stronger with no collection of setbacks.
“I feel, if he simply retains it going – in fact, he is additionally been very unfortunate typically, in order that’s been, I suppose, a little bit of a disgrace – however as a 19-year-old, up to now, I feel he is been rock stable. So, that is actually spectacular to see as an outsider.”
Verstappen additionally supplied a short evaluation of his personal season, describing it as difficult as Crimson Bull has struggled to constantly match McLaren and Mercedes.
“For me, it is positively been a little bit of a jungle this 12 months, however I am simply making an attempt to get pleasure from it the place I can.”
Antonelli, in the meantime, was reluctant to position himself alongside the 2 established champions regardless of receiving reward from each rivals.
“I do not actually like judging, however I really feel like I’ve accomplished a superb first half,” the Italian stated. “However, as Lando and Max stated, it is actually exhausting to match automobile to automobile.”
The Mercedes driver insisted he nonetheless has room for enchancment earlier than reaching the extent of his extra skilled rivals.
“I feel there’s nonetheless a great distance earlier than I attain their degree, the 2 drivers subsequent to me. So, I really feel like I am doing a fantastic job, however there’s nonetheless a protracted solution to attain their degree. So, nonetheless numerous work to do.”
