Max Verstappen delivers key 'stress' advice to Kimi Antonelli

Max Verstappen has told Kimi Antonelli that he should not "stress" about his push for this year's F1 drivers' championship, insisting the title leader is "flying" and that he simply needs to continue as he is.

Following eight victories this season, one more than team-mate George Russell has achieved in his 166-race F1 career, Antonelli has opened up an 81-point cushion over the Briton, with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton 101 points adrift. 

Asked whether he had any advice for the 20-year-old Italian as he closes in on a maiden title, the Red Bull driver was unequivocal in his praise.

"Kimi just needs to do what he's doing," said Verstappen, speaking to the media, including RacingNews365. "It's fantastic, it's working really well. He should not stress about it too much, which I don't think he is.

"He's just delivering, he's confident, he's getting more and more experience.

"He's still young, he's still very early in his career, but he's flying, and it's just working.

"So he shouldn't overcomplicate things. He's not doing that. He has a lot of good people around him who know what he needs. So, it's all working well."

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Wolff wary of comparisons

Verstappen's comments echo those of Toto Wolff, who has repeatedly urged caution against loading his young driver with historical benchmarks, such as Red Bull's Dutch star.

"You can't compare a four-time world champion with a rookie in his second Formula 1 year who has only won a little over a handful of races," said the Mercedes team principal. "Besides, you shouldn't put too much pressure on Kimi."

Wolff has also pointed to Antonelli's temperament as a reason for his composure at the front of the field.

"His youth helps him a lot because he's 20," said Wolff. "He could stay in this sport for 20 years with so many opportunities.

"He's so above all of our expectations and his own. He's just going with the flow. I think there is also a genetic factor. You are born cool as a cucumber, or you're not."

Antonelli has been open about learning to manage the weight of a title fight after previously struggling through a difficult European stretch as a rookie last year.

"I try to embrace the pressure as much as possible, because I don't want to let the pressure destroy me like it did last year in the European season," he said.