Johnny Herbert Names Kimi Antonelli as Potential Successor to Max Verstappen

Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert has identified Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli as the driver most likely to replace Max Verstappen as F1's benchmark talent, should the reigning champion follow through on threats to leave the sport. Verstappen has expressed significant dissatisfaction with the direction of the 2026 technical regulations, casting doubt on his long-term future. Herbert acknowledges Verstappen would be missed but insists the sport always finds a new superstar.

Why it matters:

Verstappen is currently the defining talent of his generation and a major draw for fans. His potential early departure, driven by discontent with future car regulations, would create a void at the pinnacle of the sport. However, history shows that new icons inevitably emerge, and the identification of a successor like Antonelli highlights the continuous cycle of talent renewal in Formula 1.

The details:

• Regulation Discontent: Verstappen's primary issue is with the 2026 cars, which he criticizes for placing too heavy an emphasis on energy management and deployment for overtaking, rather than pure driver skill and racecraft.
• Herbert's Historical View: Drawing on his own experience, Herbert points to the retirements of legends like Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, and Mika Hakkinen, noting that while their absence was felt, the sport always found a new standard-bearer.
• The 'Next One': Herbert explicitly names 17-year-old Mercedes protege Andrea 'Kimi' Antonelli, who has won two of his first three races in Formula 2 this season, as the next potential generational talent.
• The Performance Leap: Herbert describes a pattern where each new era's top driver—like Lewis Hamilton after Michael Schumacher, and Verstappen after Hamilton—represents a "jump in performance." He believes Antonelli has the potential to continue this trend.
• The 'Wow Factor': Herbert emphasizes that Verstappen possesses a unique, awe-inspiring quality in the car that would be missed, but he is confident the "'wow' driver" will always be replaced by another.

What's next:

The focus now shifts to two parallel storylines. First, whether Verstappen's frustrations with the 2026 vision will harden into a decision to leave Red Bull or F1 altogether before his contract ends in 2028. Second, all eyes will be on Kimi Antonelli's rapid development. If he continues his dominant form in F2, a swift promotion to F1—potentially even with Mercedes—seems inevitable, setting the stage for him to fulfill Herbert's prediction as the next headline act.