Former Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner has made a surprising choice by selecting Kimi Antonelli over Max Verstappen in a hypothetical draft scenario. The decision comes after Antonelli's dominant 2026 season, where he leads the championship by 66 points over Mercedes teammate George Russell and has already secured seven race victories.
In a discussion mimicking the NBA or NFL draft system, Steiner was asked to pick a driver for a four-year contract. Without hesitation, he named Antonelli. "I'll take Kimi," he said. When questioned about choosing Antonelli over Verstappen, Steiner explained, "I mean, four years. You said four years, and if you said two years... four years, if I have to keep him for four years, I think he [Antonelli] will be better than him [Verstappen]."
This statement has sparked debate in the paddock. Verstappen, a four-time consecutive world champion from 2021 to 2024, has long been considered the strongest driver on the grid. However, the 2026 season belongs to Antonelli. The 20-year-old delivered a stunning performance at Monza, winning from 19th on the grid. This feat drew comparisons to Verstappen's legendary victory in Brazil 2024, where he started 17th and won in the rain.
Steiner himself acknowledged that Verstappen's Brazil win was more spectacular visually, but he rates Antonelli's Monza drive as more solid. "I think that [Verstappen in 2024] was more spectacular," Steiner said. "This [Antonelli in 2026] is better, but it was less spectacular because when Max did it, there was much more, 'what is happening here?'. This was like he sneaked forward with the second restart; in which position did he start on the second start? As he said, then with the tyres, it gave him an advantage, but also a disadvantage. It's not like a clean drive to the front like Max did, but as a performance, it was more because it was a very solid race. The other one was rain, and in the rain you can take risks. And then if you go off, you say 'I had nothing to lose. I had to risk it'. But like this, he didn't risk anything. He just drove a fantastic race."
Steiner's analysis highlights the different approaches of the two drivers. Verstappen's Brazil 2024 win came in wet conditions that forced drivers to take extreme risks. Meanwhile, Antonelli at Monza had to overcome a different challenge: rising from the back on a dry track, where consistency and tyre management were key. Antonelli's performance demonstrated maturity and technical skill rarely seen in young drivers.
With seven wins and a significant points lead, Antonelli is now a strong favorite to claim his first world title. If he succeeds, he will become one of the youngest champions in F1 history. The intra-team battle with Russell adds another intriguing dimension, as Russell himself is a fast and experienced driver.
Steiner's pick in this hypothetical draft may not materialize soon, given Verstappen is still under contract with Red Bull and Antonelli is on his way to becoming a Mercedes icon. However, the statement reflects how the paddock views young talents like Antonelli. The 2026 season is still long, and much can happen. But one thing is certain: Kimi Antonelli has announced his arrival on the grand stage of Formula 1, and the world is starting to take notice.
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