Former Haas team principal Günther Steiner has dropped a bombshell take that'll have plenty of people talking. When asked on his podcast The Red Flags whether he'd rather hand a four-year contract to Max Verstappen or Kimi Antonelli, Steiner didn't hesitate. He'd pick the 19-year-old Mercedes driver every single time, reckoning that in four years, Antonelli will be better than the reigning champion. That's a massive statement coming from someone with Steiner's experience in the sport.

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To back up his argument, Steiner compared two incredible comebacks. Max Verstappen's wet-weather masterclass in Brazil 2024 started from P17 after an engine penalty and somehow turned into a dominant victory. Fast forward to the 2026 season, and Kimi Antonelli did something equally impressive at his home race in Monza, battling back from P19 after taking new engine components and becoming the first Italian winner there since 1966. Both drives were extraordinary, but Steiner reckons they showcase different things.

According to Steiner, Verstappen's rain-soaked charge in São Paulo was more spectacular to watch in the moment. The whole paddock was left stunned, questioning what they were witnessing as Max carved through the field. But here's where he thinks Antonelli got the upper hand. At Monza, there was no rain to give him an excuse. The race played out normally after Charles Leclerc's crash, and yet somehow Kimi still found a way to win. Steiner sees that as the sign of a driver who's got the complete package.

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Antonelli's performance showed pure racing intelligence. He climbed seven places on hard tyres before the red flag, then methodically picked off his rivals after the restart. By lap seven he was already sixth, and he eventually got past pole-sitter Pierre Gasly. Mercedes made the right strategic call with a fresh tyre pit stop under the virtual safety car, but ultimately it was Kimi's control and aggression that sealed the deal. That balance between attacking and managing, Steiner says, is what separates the good drivers from the genuinely special ones.

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Antonelli's currently leading the championship by a huge margin as we head into 2026, and George Russell was the pre-season favorite. The question now isn't if this teenager will become the youngest F1 champion ever, but when he'll claim that crown. Steiner's bold prediction might seem wild today, but if Antonelli keeps performing like this, nobody will be laughing come 2030.

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