Kimi Antonelli details crucial Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen change: 'Now they've stopped'

Kimi Antonelli has revealed that Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have ceased offering him advice now he is into his second F1 season and Mercedes has returned to prominence.

The 19-year-old, who currently leads the drivers' championship with 72 points after a strong start to the campaign, which has included his first two grand prix victories, benefited from guidance from both world champions during his rookie year.

However, speaking to BILD, Antonelli confirmed the dynamic has shifted now he poses a greater threat on track.

"Last year they were very open and helped me," the young Italian said. "But now they've stopped."

Before joining Ferrari for 2025, Hamilton mentored Antonelli during the Italian's time in the Mercedes junior programme, offering words of wisdom that have clearly resonated.

When asked what advice Hamilton gave him, Antonelli explained: "The idea that I should always be myself and enjoy what I do in order to be fast. The pressure in this environment is so great that it's easy to forget that."

The counsel appears to have proved valuable. The Mercedes driver has secured two pole positions — alongside his wins — from the opening three races, establishing himself as the youngest driver to lead the world championship and the first teenager to do so.

Whilst Hamilton's mentoring has ceased, Antonelli's most pressing competitive relationship now exists within his own garage, where team-mate George Russell sits second in the standings, nine points behind.

Asked about his exchanges with the Briton, Antonelli acknowledged the shifting dynamic: "We get along well, George is a great guy. But of course, he's not just my team-mate, he's also my rival. He's the only driver who has the same car as me."

The partnership has remained cordial thus far, though tension may begin to surface as Antonelli's performances have intensified the internal battle at Mercedes, with the W17 proving the class of the 2026 field.