Former System 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and Purple Bull advisor Helmut Marko are each satisfied they know who can be topped world champion on the finish of the season.
Talking to Swiss publication Blick, each Ecclestone and Marko shared the identical opinion on the end result of this yr’s title combat, with the pair making it clear who they anticipate to come back out on prime: “Antonelli can be world champion, Verstappen stays the strongest driver within the discipline.”
Commercial
Up to now, the younger Italian has been the standout performer of the season, taking six victories and opening up a 50-point benefit over Lewis Hamilton on the prime of the drivers’ standings. That lead has come regardless of a retirement in Spain and a pointless outing at Silverstone after injury to his entrance wheel protect compromised his race.
Antonelli can due to this fact head into the second half of the season realizing he successfully has the posh of two races in hand and would nonetheless stay on the prime of the drivers’ standings. That benefit is additional strengthened by the difficulties confronted by teammate George Russell, whose marketing campaign has additionally been disrupted by a sequence of setbacks and technical issues.
Photograph: Race Footage
Commercial
Verstappen, in contrast, has endured a irritating marketing campaign with way more lows than highs. The Dutchman has been pressured to retire from three races thus far this season, first in China with a cooling system concern, then in Monaco after struggling an influence unit failure on the opening lap regardless of ranging from the entrance row, and most just lately at Silverstone after an lively rear wing mechanism failure despatched him off the circuit, the identical concern that had already struck throughout qualifying in Austria. These setbacks have left the reigning world champion 110 factors adrift of Kimi Antonelli heading into the summer season break.
Regardless of a troublesome season, Verstappen has nonetheless produced a number of robust performances, claiming a podium in Canada, ending second in Austria, returning to the rostrum in Belgium and securing one other runner-up end in Hungary.
Marko ‘would not wager’ on Verstappen repeating his 2025 comeback
Talking to Krone Zeitung, Marko performed down Verstappen’s probabilities of preventing his manner again into the title battle, arguing that Purple Bull at present lacks the consistency wanted to problem on the entrance.
Commercial
The Austrian additionally pointed to the crew’s tempo deficit in comparison with McLaren and Ferrari, in addition to the automobile’s instability, as key elements behind his evaluation. Verstappen heads into the second half of the season 110 factors adrift of Antonelli, whereas Marko additionally made it clear that he hopes the Dutchman will stay with Purple Bull sooner or later.
