Source:REUTERS/Issei Kato
[Saba Sports News] Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert believes Andrea Kimi Antonelli would be the most promising successor should Max Verstappen choose to leave the sport.
Amid controversy over the new regulations, Verstappen has for the first time publicly expressed doubts about continuing his F1 career. During the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, he admitted that the current battery energy–focused racing format has gradually drained his interest. He revealed he is rethinking his future, not only in terms of competition but also his personal life choices. A day later, he went further, stating that he must question whether it is worth continuing in the sport if he no longer enjoys racing.
Contractually, Verstappen is tied to Red Bull until 2028, but the team would struggle to hold him against his will if he decides to walk away. Although Red Bull has young drivers such as Isack Hadjar, who is gradually establishing himself in F1, and Arvid Lindblad, regarded as a rising prospect, Herbert believes the team still needs a top-tier driver with immediate competitiveness and star appeal. Against this backdrop, Antonelli, currently driving for Mercedes, has been tipped as the ideal candidate. He is currently competing with George Russell for a leading role within the team, and a move to Red Bull could grant him a more clearly defined status as the team’s number one driver.
In the editor’s opinion, F1 has continuously produced prodigious talents: from Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher to Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, each generation has represented a breakthrough. Antonelli has the potential to become the next driver to take the sport to new heights.