Kimi Antonelli Voted 'New Max Verstappen' in Fan Poll

Mercedes junior driver Kimi Antonelli has been identified by F1 fans as the most likely successor to Max Verstappen's dominance. In a poll sparked by comments from former team principal Guenther Steiner, the 18-year-old captured a decisive 46.11% of the vote, far outpacing his fellow young drivers. The poll sought to identify which rising star could eventually replicate the four-time world champion's astonishing success in the sport.

Why it matters:

The "next Verstappen" narrative is both a massive compliment and a significant burden for any young driver entering the sport. It reflects the incredibly high bar set by the Red Bull driver and heavily influences how fans, media, and even teams perceive the next generation of talent. For Antonelli, this public vote of confidence adds to the already immense pressure as he prepares to step into a top-tier Mercedes seat for his rookie season.

By the numbers:

The results from the RacingNews365 poll show a clear fan favorite among the group of highly-touted prospects.

• Kimi Antonelli: 46.11% - The Mercedes junior was the clear winner, capturing nearly half the vote.
  • He will replace the seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes for the 2025 season.
• Isack Hadjar: 23.80% - The new Red Bull driver finished a distant second, despite being named Verstappen's 2025 teammate.
• Oliver Bearman: 15.90% - The Haas driver, who was suggested as a candidate by Guenther Steiner, secured a respectable third place.
• Gabriel Bortoleto: 8.35% - The Sauber rookie and reigning F2 champion rounded out the top four.
• Liam Lawson: 5.49% & Franco Colapinto: 0.34% - The two other options garnered minimal support from fans.

Looking Ahead:

While fan polls are not scientific, they highlight the immense hype surrounding Antonelli as he embarks on his F1 career. The pressure will be on for the Italian to perform and justify the belief that he can one day reach Verstappen's level. All eyes will be on him and his fellow rookies in 2025 to see if they can live up to the considerable expectations placed upon them.