Steiner backs Antonelli to surpass Vettel's four titles as maiden crown looms

Kimi Antonelli stands one top-nine finish away from his maiden Formula 1 world championship at this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix — and former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes that title will be the first of many, predicting the 20-year-old Mercedes driver will ultimately surpass Sebastian Vettel’s four world titles.

Steiner made the bold assessment during an appearance on The Red Flags Podcast, drawing a direct comparison between Antonelli and Vettel, who claimed four consecutive championships with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013. “Absolutely,” Steiner said when asked whether Antonelli would become more successful than Vettel. “I mean Vettel was good, but Vettel was also at the right time, at the right place. But if you see when he went to Ferrari, there was not a lot left. Sebastian was very good, but he was not an exceptional talent like Max [Verstappen], or I think Kimi will be.”

Asked directly whether he expects Antonelli to win more than four championships, Steiner was unequivocal: “Yes.”

Should Antonelli be crowned in Mexico City, he would also break Vettel’s record as Formula 1’s youngest world champion, a mark the German set in 2010 at the age of 23. Antonelli, currently 20, took the championship lead in just his second F1 season following back-to-back victories at the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix. He has since added to that tally and now holds nine grand prix wins for the year.

Antonelli leads the drivers’ standings on 365 points, a commanding 123-point advantage over his Mercedes team-mate George Russell in second on 242. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton sits third on 241 points.

Mercedes also has the opportunity to wrap up the constructors’ championship this weekend. The Silver Arrows lead on 607 points after the United States Grand Prix, 133 clear of Ferrari on 474.

Team principal Toto Wolff struck a measured tone in Mercedes’ Mexican Grand Prix preview, cautioning against complacency. “The championships are moving closer, but our mindset does not change,” Wolff said. “Thinking about the outcome won’t help us achieve it. We will stay disciplined, take each session as it comes, and concentrate on doing the fundamentals well.”