Jacques Villeneuve, former Formula 1 World Champion, has pointed out a key difference between Max Verstappen and rising star Kimi Antonelli—one that could shape the outcome of future title battles.
Villeneuve’s comments came after Antonelli’s near-miss at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. At the Sepang International Circuit, Antonelli clipped a bollard at the pit entrance after making a mistake in the final corner. Although he avoided a penalty or unscheduled pit stop, Villeneuve argued that such errors are becoming a pattern for the young Italian.
“The big difference between Max and Kimi is that Verstappen very rarely makes mistakes. When he’s in contention for a top result, his driving is incredibly precise,” Villeneuve told Sky Sports. “We see this not just between Verstappen and Isack Hadjar, but also compared to Antonelli.”
Villeneuve highlighted that while Antonelli is currently leading the championship by 84 points over teammate George Russell with seven races remaining on the 2026 calendar, repeated mistakes could eventually cost him.
“Kimi could retire three times in a row and still be the championship leader, but if he keeps making these mistakes, one of them is going to really hurt,” Villeneuve warned.
The Canadian champion urged Antonelli to proceed with caution, especially after previous errors—including a costly qualifying slip in Azerbaijan.
While Red Bull Racing has improved, it’s too late for Verstappen to mount a serious title challenge this season. Antonelli, meanwhile, can afford some margin for error but must minimize mistakes if he wants to maintain his edge as the championship battles heat up.
For Villeneuve, the lesson is clear: consistency and precision are what separate the greats from the rest on the Formula 1 grid.
