Toto Wolff pointed out what Max Verstappen needs to do to compete for the title again in Formula 1 in the 2027 season, in a possible duel with Kimi Antonelli. For the Mercedes boss, the Red Bull Racing driver’s talent will not be enough without a competitive package.
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After fourteen rounds held in the 2026 season, Verstappen is in sixth place in the drivers’ championship, with 145 points scored and 147 behind Antonelli, the leader in the standings. Red Bull Racing also appears only in fourth among the teams, with 230 points, while Mercedes leads with 503.
Asked by OE24 about the possibility of Red Bull recovering in 2027 and providing a championship battle between Verstappen and Antonelli, Wolff avoided ruling out the four-time world champion but emphasized the importance of the equipment.
“Max is the most exceptional driver of this generation, but he also needs the car and the engine to compete for a world championship. He needs to be the best driver in the best car with the best engine,” Wolff said.
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Antonelli, in turn, has been leading the championship in only his second season in Formula 1. The Italian has already won eight races in 2026, including victories in China, Japan, and Monza, where he started from 19th position after a penalty for an engine change.
Even with this performance from the young Mercedes driver, Wolff rejected direct comparisons with Verstappen: “You cannot compare a four-time world champion with a rookie in his second year of Formula 1 who has won little more than a handful of races,” he added.
The executive also called for caution not to increase the pressure on Antonelli, although he highlighted the scale of his results so far: “On the other hand, you cannot overstate what he has achieved so far,” Wolff concluded.
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