'Antonelli or Verstappen will be champion' - Ecclestone leaves Russell out of title fight

Although Mercedes still appear to have the strongest car on the grid at the moment, the British businessman chose to mention only one of Toto Wolff’s two drivers - the one currently leading the championship by 20 points over his team-mate, who has now gone two races without a podium finish.

Many had tipped Russell as the leading favourite for the 2026 title after an outstanding 2025 campaign, which saw him record the highest points tally of his career despite not having a championship-winning car at his disposal. Antonelli, meanwhile, has taken a major step forward compared to twelve months ago, building on the strong progress he had already shown towards the end of last season and carrying that momentum into 2026 with three consecutive pole positions and three straight victories.

The other driver backed by Ecclestone was the four-time world champion, who, despite struggling in the opening races due to an RB22 that was not on par with its rivals, showed clear signs of improvement in Miami. Even though his race was compromised by a spin at the start, the upgrades introduced in Florida appeared to deliver positive results, with the former F1 supremo unwilling to rule him out of the title fight.

Speaking to Swiss publication Blick, he suggested Red Bull managed to recover from its recent struggles. The former F1 supremo also pointed to Verstappen’s return to form, warning that the Dutchman becomes especially dangerous once he regains momentum: “Antonelli or Verstappen will be world champion. Red Bull has apparently overcome the slump. Max has caught fire again – and then he’s dangerous.”

The championship leader is already setting his sights beyond Formula 1, with the Mercedes youngster eager to secure the A Permit needed to race GT3 cars around the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The Italian talent has enjoyed a sensational run of form in recent weeks, climbing to the top of the standings after another string of standout performances. Antonelli has rapidly emerged as one of the biggest stars on the grid and continues to impress with his maturity and consistency despite his young age.

Still, like Verstappen, the Mercedes driver is also keen to explore opportunities outside Formula 1 in the future, particularly in endurance and GT racing categories. Speaking with Jules Gounon, Antonelli confirmed he is already targeting the famous Nordschleife permit: “I’m going to get it… I’ll try by the end of the year.”