Antonelli Names Verstappen as His Biggest Threat for 2027

Kimi Antonelli has identified Max Verstappen as the man most likely to derail his title defence in 2027, with the newly crowned champion expecting a far tighter fight at the front next season.

Why it matters:

Antonelli wrapped up his maiden crown with three rounds to spare, but Mercedes' cushion has been shrinking for months. Red Bull's upgrade curve has turned Verstappen back into a genuine threat, and the Italian knows a repeat of this year's dominance won't come easily.

The details:

• Asked in San Marino who he rates as his biggest rival, Antonelli didn't hesitate: "If I have to choose one driver, I'd say Max, the one who might cause the most problems."
• Verstappen's charge from 21st on the grid to second in Brazil stuck with him, arriving as Red Bull kept churning out updates.
• Mercedes still sealed the Constructors' Championship at Interlagos, yet the gap to the chasing pack has been steadily eaten into.
• The 2027 fight, in Antonelli's view, won't be a two-team affair: "I think next year will be a very close fight among all of us, among all the top teams... Looking at Red Bull too, with all the upgrades they have brought, they have kept improving."

Between the lines:

Antonelli also namechecked Russell, Norris, Hamilton and Leclerc, framing next season as a six-way scrap rather than a straight Mercedes–Red Bull duel. His own teammate remains the most instructive benchmark: Russell is still chasing P2 in this year's standings, sitting 17 points adrift of Verstappen after Brazil.

What's next:

Three rounds remain, starting in Las Vegas, and the Russell–Verstappen battle for runner-up honours is the only real suspense left in 2026. After that, attention turns to whether Red Bull's development trajectory carries into next winter — and whether Antonelli's prediction of a wide-open title fight holds up.