Antonelli sees Verstappen as biggest threat in 2027

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli believes Red Bull's Max Verstappen will pose the greatest challenge to his title defence in 2027. Antonelli secured the 2026 Drivers' Championship with nine race wins and seven further podiums, finishing third in Mexico City behind Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen missed the 2025 title by two points and has moved into second place this year thanks to Red Bull's improvement. Speaking at a press conference in San Marino, Antonelli said: "If I had to choose one driver, I'd say Max – he's the one who might cause the most problems."

Antonelli also expects Ferrari and McLaren to push for more consistent results. Both teams have won races in 2026, and George Russell is looking to recover from a rollercoaster season and contend for his first title. Antonelli predicted a very close fight among the top teams next year.