Croft: Antonelli will be a younger world champion than Verstappen

Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft has backed Kimi Antonelli to become a younger world champion than Max Verstappen, after the Mercedes driver delivered a remarkable Monza victory from 19th on the grid.

Why it matters:

Antonelli, 20, currently leads the championship by 66 points over teammate George Russell. If he secures the title, he would surpass Sebastian Vettel as the youngest F1 champion in history. Croft's prediction places the Italian in rare company, comparing his trajectory to Verstappen's early rise.

The details:

• Croft pointed out that Antonelli is achieving milestones earlier than Verstappen: he is already a younger polesitter and a younger grand prix winner.
• "He's going to be a younger world champion than Max was," Croft said on the Sky Sports F1 Show.
• He praised Antonelli's maturity, noting how the 20-year-old is controlling his emotions better than 12 months ago.
• Antonelli has seven wins this season, including a run of four straight victories before the summer break.
• His Monza win was the first for an Italian driver at the track in 60 years.

The big picture:

Antonelli's rapid rise draws parallels to Verstappen, who debuted at 17, won his first race at 18, and took his first title at 24. Vettel's record of 23 years and 134 days still stands, but Antonelli could break it this season.

What's next:

The Spanish Grand Prix offers Antonelli a chance to extend his lead. With a 66-point cushion, he can afford a few setbacks, but his current form suggests the title is his to lose. If he keeps this pace, the youngest champion record could fall before the season ends.