Max Verstappen makes exciting Kimi Antonelli prediction after his maiden Formula 1 victory

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Red Bull Racing star Max Verstappen has predicted that Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s maiden victory at the Chinese Grand Prix ‘won’t be his last’ in Formula 1.

Mercedes secured their second one-two finish of the season at the Chinese Grand Prix, with Kimi Antonelli standing on the top step of the podium for the very first time.

Antonelli took pole position for the first time in his F1 career outside of a Sprint Race, but wasn’t leading the race after the long right-hander.

Ferrari’s smaller turbo once again allowed them to race to the front of the pack, but Antonelli fended off teammate George Russell to make sure that he was still the lead Mercedes driver.

Antonelli then drove brilliantly to pick off Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, with the pair instead squabbling between them for the final spot on the podium.

Hamilton paid tribute to Antonelli after scoring his first Ferrari podium, and his close friend Max Verstappen was equally positive about the 19-year-old.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Mercedes F1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Max Verstappen says ‘very emotional’ Kimi Antonelli victory ‘won’t be his last’ in Formula 1

Verstappen’s Chinese Grand Prix played out very differently to Antonelli as Red Bull’s struggles continue.

The Dutchman’s teammate, Isack Hadjar, spun on the opening lap, while Verstappen once again couldn’t get off the line cleanly and slipped to the back of the pack.

Verstappen was complaining on the team radio before eventually retiring from the race, and now sits 43 points behind championship leader George Russell.

In an interview with Sky Sports Italia, when asked about Antonelli’s win, Verstappen said: “It won’t be his last one as well, but the first one is very emotional.”

It’s nearly a decade since Verstappen’s emotional first victory on his debut with Red Bull, but he’s now joined by another teenager on Formula 1’s list of youngest winners.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Max Verstappen says new F1 rules ‘really are a joke’ after Chinese Grand Prix retirement

Although Verstappen was delighted for Antonelli, he’s less enamoured with Formula 1’s new regulations.

The 28-year-old has been one of the sport’s biggest critics about the new ruleset, and speaking to the Dutch media, via RacingNews365, he said: “If anyone enjoys this, then you really don’t know what racing is all about.

“It’s not fun at all. We’re playing Mario Kart. This isn’t racing. Only Kimi Antonelli or George Russell wins, right? They are miles ahead of the rest of the field.

“It’s not that I’m angry about my position, because I’m actually fighting even harder now, and then you understand even better what you have to do and what it’s all about.

“It really is a joke. You can influence it a little, but fundamentally it just isn’t right. I don’t really see that changing next year. It’s just painful.”

Despite Verstappen being notorious for his feedback to Red Bull, he can’t single-handedly lift the car up to the same level as Mercedes and Ferrari.

Ferrari are close to the Silver Arrows, but for now, it does look like a two-horse race between Russell and Antonelli every weekend.