{
  "id": 18308385,
  "title": "Ecclestone backs Antonelli to 'turn into another Max Verstappen' within three years",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/ecclestone-backs-antonelli-to-turn-into-another-max-verstappen-within",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-05T13:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ecclestone-backs-antonelli-turn-another-130000126.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Bernie Ecclestone, the former Formula 1 boss, has expressed his belief that Kimi Antonelli will establish himself as another Max Verstappen within two to three years. This prediction was made shortly after Verstappen clinched his second consecutive championship title. Ecclestone emphasized that, at merely 20 years and 68 days old, Antonelli had surpassed Sebastian Vettel's record of being the youngest world champion, by more than three years. This victory also marked the end of Italy's 73-year wait for a champion driver.\n\nEcclestone drew a comparison between Verstappen and Antonelli, highlighting that both drivers possess the same hunger for victory. He stated that Antonelli, much like Verstappen, is unwilling to accept anything less than a win. The former F1 boss also mentioned that Antonelli has the potential to achieve even greater success in the future. He warned that the young Italian driver still faces numerous challenges ahead, which will be necessary to develop his skills further.\n\nAn interesting aspect of Ecclestone's analysis is his observation of the contrasting parenting styles of Verstappen's and Antonelli's fathers. Verstappen's father, Jos Verstappen, was known for being demanding during his son's karting career, which contributed to Max's growth. On the other hand, Antonelli's father, Marco Antonelli, takes a more understanding approach, attempting to keep his son calm. Ecclestone believes that Antonelli will only reach his full potential once he has faced some adversity, allowing him to mature and become more resilient.\n\nHowever, this prediction contrasts with Mercedes' cautious approach towards Antonelli. After his win at the Japanese Grand Prix, Mercedes' technical director Toto Wolff advised the team to protect the young driver from speculation about winning the championship. Wolff has also presented Antonelli as a product of the Mercedes system rather than a self-made prodigy. Antonelli himself has maintained a humble demeanor by keeping the number 12 on his car, explaining that it is a way for him to stay grounded.\n\nEcclestone's optimism regarding Antonelli's future success marks a significant shift in his outlook. In the past, he expressed surprise if the then 18-year-old would even win a race by 2025. However, given Antonelli's current trajectory, Ecclestone remains confident that the young driver will become a dominant force in Formula 1, surpassing even Verstappen's achievements within a few years.",
  "summary": "Bernie Ecclestone believes Kimi Antonelli will \"turn into another Max Verstappen\" within two to three years. The former Formula 1 boss made the prediction days after the Mercedes driver was crowned champion.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}