Bernie Ecclestone can only see Max Verstappen potentially rivalling Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli for the 2027 F1 drivers’ title, provided that Red Bull offer him one thing.

Verstappen is now officially ruled out of the 2026 F1 title race with five rounds to go, having dropped to a 129-point deficit to Antonelli. It marks the first time that Verstappen has been eliminated from any drivers’ title battle since the 2020 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Antonelli is also now within reach of becoming the youngest-ever champion at just 20 years old in the Mexico City Grand Prix. The Italian only needs two points in Mexico to lift the title, or one point if George Russell does not win or zero if Russell and Lewis Hamilton do not win.

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Bernie Ecclestone only tips Max Verstappen to fight for the 2027 title if Red Bull avoid a slow start

In truth, Verstappen was never in the title race after Red Bull started the 2026 F1 regulations era on the wrong foot, while Mercedes aced their initial design to lead the way from the get-go. Verstappen lamented Red Bull’s early-season balance problems, and his woes would end up including the RB22 suffering from aero degradation that made the car worse over a stint.

Red Bull’s Macarena rear wing caused Verstappen to spin during qualifying in Austria and in the British Grand Prix while set for a podium finish, as well. And it took Red Bull until round 15 of 23 in Baku this September to finally bring updates to the RB22 that gave Verstappen a car in which he could then secure his first pole and wins of 2026 in Malaysia and Singapore.

So, long-time F1 supremo Ecclestone believes Red Bull must start 2027 on a much stronger footing for Verstappen to stand any chance of fighting Mercedes rival Antonelli for the title.

“Max will finish second in the world championship,” Ecclestone told Blick, as he predicted the final 2026 F1 drivers’ standings.

“And fans can already look forward to 2027, when the impeccable and super-fast sportsman Antonelli competes against Verstappen. However, Max will need a car that works from the very first race, not like this season.”

Would Mercedes have won the championship without Kimi Antonelli?

Verstappen taking the first win for a Red Bull Powertrains engine from pole in Malaysia, and then winning the F1 Sprint and the Singapore Grand Prix from pole position, before securing P3 in the United States Grand Prix last time out has moved the Dutchman up to fourth in the 2026 standings, with just a six-point deficit to Russell in P2 and five points to Hamilton in P3.

Recent results have drastically changed the shape of the fight for second in the standings, as Verstappen was still only sixth after round 11/23 in Hungary this July – at which point he had the right to leave Red Bull early via a release clause, only to sign a new deal until 2030.

Verstappen left Hungary trailing Antonelli by 110 points, Hamilton by 60 and Russell by 51, as well. Yet his post-summer break form even featured P3 in Italy and P2 finishes in Spain and Azerbaijan before his back-to-back wins in Malaysia and Singapore and P3 in America.