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Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton Playfully Mock Kimi Antonelli with Awkward F1 Tips
Highlights
- Kimi Antonelli secured Monaco GP pole at 19 years old.
- Verstappen and Hamilton shared playful, unhelpful race start advice.
- Antonelli improved race starts, dropping only one place in Canada.
- Monaco’s tight circuit makes a clean start vital for success.
- Verstappen and Hamilton start front row alongside Antonelli’s pole.
- Opening laps at Monaco expected to be tense and challenging.
After securing Monaco Grand Prix pole at 19, Kimi Antonelli received playful “advice” from Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton rather than serious guidance.
The start in Monaco is disproportionately decisive, given the short run to Sainte Dévote and minimal overtaking opportunities across 78 laps.
Mercedes’ launch execution has lagged in 2026, with drivers slipping positions off the line. Antonelli improved in Canada, losing only one place on race day.
Canada progress: Antonelli limited start loss to one position on race day.
Antonelli stresses a calm approach, prioritising clean clutch bite and minimal wheelspin. With parc fermé applied, only bite‑point routines and pedal modulation can tame launch variability.
“It’s a pretty short run into Turn 1, so just get a clean start — don’t try the magic start.” — Kimi Antonelli
Verstappen’s response is characteristically dry, advising a one‑second wait after lights out, with Hamilton, starting third, escalating that to two seconds.
“When the lights go out, you wait one second. That’s my advice!” — Max Verstappen
“I’m one step behind, so two seconds.” — Lewis Hamilton
Behind the jokes is real jeopardy. Verstappen starts alongside Antonelli on the front row, while Hamilton lines up third, positioning Mercedes against Red Bull strategic pressure.
Track position dominates Monaco’s risk calculus. Early tyre management and avoiding front‑wing damage typically outweigh aggressive launches that invite wheelspin or anti‑stall.
Antonelli’s championship lead heightens scrutiny, following recent discussion of managing pressure across the weekend in Monaco.
Hamilton’s pace suggests genuine Monaco win potential if he clears traffic early or exploits strategy variance and Safety Car timing.
For Verstappen, a clean launch plus undercut threat keeps him firmly in contention, even if on‑track passes remain scarce.
The cordial exchange masks a razor‑thin margin for error. Any start miscue could decide the race and influence the season’s competitive balance.
Visual Summary
POLE
ANTONELLI
19 y/o
Championship Leader
P2
VERSTAPPEN
P3
HAMILTON
Wait 1 second!– Verstappen
2 seconds, got it!
– Antonelli (joking)
– Antonelli (joking)
Wait 2 seconds!
– Hamilton
– Hamilton
Monaco Pole for Antonelli!
Humor, nerves, and championship pressure—
all at the trickiest start in F1.
all at the trickiest start in F1.
Can the young leader launch clean & make history?
???
Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.
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