Toto Wolff still considers Max Verstappen as the benchmark driver of his generation, but warns that his talent will not be enough to compete for the title in 2027.
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Can Max Verstappen become a world title contender again as early as next season and challenge Kimi Antonelli? Toto Wolff does not rule out this possibility at all, but the head of Mercedes believes that the four-time world champion will need a Red Bull significantly more competitive to achieve this.
After 14 rounds in 2026, the situation contrasts sharply with the seasons during which Verstappen dominated Formula 1. The Dutchman is only sixth in the championship with 145 points, already 147 behind Antonelli. In the constructors’ championship, Red Bull is fourth with 230 points, far behind the 503 points accumulated by Mercedes.
Wolff does not rule out a return of Verstappen
Asked about the possibility of Red Bull returning to the front in 2027 and offering a duel between Verstappen and Antonelli, Wolff refuses to write off the chances of the Dutchman. The Mercedes boss even continues to consider him the most exceptional driver of his generation.
But individual qualities are not enough to win a championship. Red Bull will need to improve its car and power unit if Verstappen wants to regain a situation allowing him to regularly compete for victories.
“Max is the most exceptional driver of this generation, but he also needs the car and the engine to be able to fight for a world championship.”
For Wolff, the equation necessary to win a title remains ultimately quite simple.
“He must be the best driver in the best car with the best engine.”
Red Bull far behind Mercedes in 2026
The numbers this season perfectly illustrate the problem Verstappen is facing. While Antonelli has already won eight races, the Red Bull driver has not had a car competitive enough to regularly fight against Mercedes.
The situation is particularly visible in the constructors’ championship. With 503 points, Mercedes has more than double the total of Red Bull after 14 Grands Prix. The Austrian team is only in fourth place with 230 points.
The Spanish Grand Prix further illustrated this difference. Verstappen did secure an excellent second place behind Antonelli, but he himself admitted after the race that he did not have the pace of the Mercedes driver, and even less that of Lando Norris. The virtual safety car that trapped the Briton allowed him to maximize his result.
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Red Bull will therefore have to make a significant step during the winter if Verstappen wants to regain a real chance to aim for a fifth world title as early as 2027.
Antonelli impresses with already eight wins
On the other side, Antonelli continues to exceed expectations in only his second season in Formula 1. The Italian already has eight wins this year, including his first success in China and an important victory in Japan.
His triumph at Monza is probably the most spectacular. Forced to start from 19th place after an engine penalty, Antonelli climbed through the entire field to win in front of his home crowd.
His new victory in Madrid allowed him to further consolidate his position at the top of the championship. Antonelli now has a considerable lead and is gradually approaching his first world title.
Despite these performances, Wolff refuses to rush comparisons with Verstappen.
“You cannot compare Kimi to a four-time champion”
When asked if Antonelli was already starting to reach the level of the Red Bull driver, the Mercedes boss was much more cautious. The performances of his young driver are remarkable, but his experience remains incomparable to that of Verstappen.
“You cannot compare a four-time world champion with a driver who is only in his second season in Formula 1 and who has won just over a handful of races.”
Wolff mainly wants to avoid the exceptional results of Antonelli creating excessive expectations around the young Italian. In his eyes, he still needs to continue his progress without constantly being measured against Verstappen.
“We must not put too much pressure on Kimi either. But on the other hand, it is impossible to exaggerate the importance of what he has achieved so far.”
The prospect of an Antonelli-Verstappen duel in 2027 remains appealing, but it will depend above all on Red Bull. Wolff clearly does not doubt Verstappen’s abilities. The real question is whether his team will be able to provide him with a car and an engine sufficiently competitive to allow him to exploit them.
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