Max Verstappen has delivered a striking assessment of Lewis Hamilton’s future Formula 1 potential while predicting that Kimi Antonelli could become an even stronger driver after winning his first world championship. The Red Bull star believes Hamilton may have reached the limit of his development, but insists Mercedes youngster Antonelli still has plenty of room to improve as he approaches a potentially historic title triumph.
Antonelli is on the verge of becoming the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history, with the Italian needing just two more points to secure the 2026 Drivers’ Championship, according to GPFans. The 20-year-old has transformed his fortunes after a difficult debut season in 2025, when he struggled against Mercedes teammate George Russell and faced questions about whether he was ready for the sport’s highest level.
This season, however, has told a completely different story. Antonelli now leads Russell by a reported 123 points, placing him in a commanding position heading into the Mexican Grand Prix. His remarkable progress has attracted praise from across the paddock, including from Verstappen, who believes the young Mercedes driver has yet to show his full potential.
VERSTAPPEN BELIEVES ANTONELLI WILL IMPROVE AFTER WINNING THE TITLE
Speaking to German publication Bild, Verstappen explained why he expects Antonelli to become even more dangerous once he achieves his ultimate goal.
“He hasn’t fully realised his potential yet, and winning the world title will make him even better,” Verstappen said.
The four-time world champion suggested that securing a championship can change a driver’s mindset. Once the pressure of chasing the ultimate prize disappears, a driver may approach race weekends with greater confidence and freedom.
“You have achieved your life’s goal and start the race weekends with a more relaxed mindset,” Verstappen added.
That assessment reflects Verstappen’s own experience at the highest level. Winning a championship requires not only speed but also consistency, mental resilience and the ability to perform under intense scrutiny. Once a driver has proved they can win the title, the confidence gained can influence how they approach future challenges.
For Antonelli, a championship would mark the beginning of a new phase rather than the end of his development. At just 20, he has years of potential improvement ahead of him, and his performance against Russell has already demonstrated how dramatically a young driver’s fortunes can change.
VERSTAPPEN MAKES A POINTED COMMENT ABOUT HAMILTON
Verstappen’s comments became more provocative when he turned his attention to Hamilton, one of his most significant rivals throughout his career.
The Dutchman argued that age is no longer as decisive in modern Formula 1 as it once was. Improvements in training, preparation and technology have helped drivers remain competitive for longer, meaning experience can continue to be valuable well into a driver’s forties.
However, Verstappen drew a distinction between maintaining performance and continuing to improve.
“He probably won’t get any faster. Don’t get me wrong: I’m not saying Lewis is getting slower, just that he isn’t getting any faster,” Verstappen said.
He then contrasted Hamilton’s situation with Antonelli’s development, adding: “With Kimi, it’s different. There’s still a lot more in him.”
The remarks are likely to attract attention because Hamilton remains one of the most accomplished drivers in the sport’s history. His seven world championships and extraordinary longevity have established him as a benchmark for multiple generations of competitors.
Verstappen’s assessment does not necessarily suggest that Hamilton can no longer compete at a high level. Instead, it reflects the view that a veteran driver may have less untapped potential than a much younger rival who is still learning and adapting.
HAMILTON’S CHALLENGE IS DIFFERENT FROM ANTONELLI’S
The comparison highlights two very different stages of a Formula 1 career. Hamilton, at 41, has spent decades competing at the highest level, accumulating experience across different regulations, teams and generations of rivals.
Antonelli, meanwhile, is still establishing himself. His rapid rise has shown that his confidence, race management and ability to handle pressure can develop significantly over a relatively short period.
The distinction is important because raw speed is only one part of Formula 1 performance. Drivers also need to understand tyre behaviour, manage race strategy, work with engineers and adapt to changing technical demands.
Hamilton’s experience remains a major asset, even if Verstappen believes his capacity for further improvement is more limited. Antonelli’s youth offers a different advantage: he has more time to refine his skills and build on the foundations of his breakthrough season.
Ultimately, their respective performances will depend on several factors, including car competitiveness, team decisions and their ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Age alone cannot determine who will be faster on any given weekend.
TOTO WOLFF REMEMBERS THE CRITICISM ANTONELLI FACED
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has also reflected on Antonelli’s extraordinary turnaround, taking aim at those who questioned the young Italian’s place in Formula 1 during his difficult first season.
Wolff recalled how some critics argued that Antonelli should not have been driving for Mercedes after a run of nine races without points in 2025. Others reportedly questioned whether he belonged in Formula 1 at all.
For the Mercedes boss, Antonelli’s progress has made those early doubts particularly satisfying to revisit.
He praised the driver’s development, his work with the team and his collaboration with race engineer Peter Bonnington, widely known as Bono.
Wolff also acknowledged that the journey had not been easy, recalling the emotional moments Antonelli experienced during his early struggles. Those difficulties now provide important context for the scale of his reported championship challenge.
Rather than allowing the criticism to define his career, Antonelli has responded with a season that has placed him on the brink of a historic achievement.
MERCEDES PREPARES FOR A POTENTIAL TITLE CELEBRATION IN MEXICO
Despite the growing excitement, Wolff has been careful not to declare the championship won before the necessary points are secured.
He described the title as almost certain but emphasised that Antonelli still needed to finish the job. According to the scenarios published by GPFans, the precise result required in Mexico depends on how his rivals perform.
If Russell wins the race, Antonelli needs to finish ninth or higher. If Hamilton wins, he needs to finish tenth or higher. If neither driver wins, the reported scenario indicates that Antonelli can secure the championship regardless of his finishing position.
Wolff even joked about the celebrations that could follow, suggesting the team would enjoy tequila if the title were secured in Mexico, or wait until the following weekend if the result did not arrive.
For Mercedes, the prospect of celebrating Antonelli’s first championship would represent a major milestone after investing in the young driver’s development. It would also provide a powerful response to those who questioned the decision to promote him to a race seat so early in his career.
ANTONELLI’S BREAKTHROUGH COULD SIGNAL A NEW F1 ERA
Verstappen’s comments capture the contrast between an established champion and a rising star. Hamilton has already achieved almost everything available in Formula 1, while Antonelli is approaching the first major milestone of what could become a long career at the front of the grid.
If Antonelli secures the title, the challenge will be to prove that his success can be sustained. Championships bring new expectations, greater scrutiny and pressure to defend the position that a driver has worked so hard to achieve.
Verstappen believes the freedom that comes with winning could help Antonelli become even stronger. That prediction will be tested in the seasons ahead, especially as rival teams develop their cars and competitors look for ways to challenge Mercedes.
Hamilton, meanwhile, will have the opportunity to answer any doubts about his future performance through his results on track.
For now, Antonelli is the driver attracting the most attention as the Mexican Grand Prix approaches. Verstappen’s verdict is clear: Hamilton may have limited room left to improve, but Antonelli’s story is only beginning—and his first world championship could be the moment that unlocks an even higher level of performance.
