Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli were questioned after the Formula 1 Hungarian GP to evaluate each other after the race and the conclusion of the first half of the 2026 season.
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The three drivers have had quite different campaigns in these 11 stages contested so far. While the Italian is fighting for the title and is the leader of the standings, the British driver is trying to stay alive in the title fight, especially after the win at Hungaroring, and the Dutchman is battling to fit in with the RB22.
So, of the trio, Norris was the first to answer the question, praising how Antonelli has performed in 2026. “I feel that you can’t make real comparisons in this kind of situation; you can’t compare teams directly. I think it’s necessary to point out Kimi as a complete driver. They have an excellent car, and he has done an incredible job, convincingly outperforming his teammate in all stages. Therefore, when talking about the championship, Kimi’s merit must be recognized.”
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Meanwhile, Verstappen agreed with Lando, describing the 19-year-old as one of the highlights of the pack. “I think I agree with most of what Lando said. I think, if we look at the front of the pack, Kimi has done a very good job. Very strong, very solid, being the strongest in the team. I think if he continues like this — of course, he has also had a lot of bad luck sometimes, which is a shame, I would say — but, at 19 years old, so far, he has shown himself to be extremely solid. So, it is really impressive to see that from the outside. He is, above all, a nice guy and a very strong driver; it’s a good combination.”
Finally, it was Kimi’s turn to answer the question and he showed reluctance to judge himself against his rivals, but said he is satisfied with the first half of the year. “I don’t really like to make judgments, but I feel I had a good first half of the season. However, as Lando and Max said, it is very difficult to compare car to car. I think I still have a long way to go to reach their level — the two drivers beside me. So, I feel I am doing a great job, but there is still a lot to catch up to their level. That is, there is still a lot of work to do,” he concluded.
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