Verstappen may well have found his match in Antonelli

Anyone who watched Antonelli storm to pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix must also see the parallels between Verstappen and the Mercedes driver. It’s the same determination; the way he threads between the guardrails through the streets of Monte Carlo, finding the limit like few others can.

Antonelli has been impressive all season, but his performance in Monaco may well be his best of the year. Only the very best in the sport manage to find the right balance between speed and precision in Monaco. Lewis Hamilton has done it multiple times in the past; and Verstappen can do it too.

In fact, the Dutchman nearly snatched a surprise pole. But there was Antonelli, a 19-year-old super talent who showed in Monaco that he has everything it takes to be Verstappen’s equal—if he isn’t already. This was his day and likely the springboard to what could be another fine Sunday for him, perhaps with a fifth consecutive Grand Prix victory.

“I’m still shaking,” Antonelli says as he settles onto the brand-new red couch in the press room barely ten minutes after his brilliant lap. It’s clear the significance of the achievement, delivered in only his second season during the toughest qualifying of the year, hasn’t fully sunk in yet.

When Antonelli later that evening reflects on Saturday back in his hotel room, he’ll truly realize he now belongs among the big guns. Earlier in the day, answering GPblog's question, Verstappen said he had seen proof that Antonelli is a future champion.

“Yes, for sure. I think you see a few guys grow up from younger categories that have something special and when they switch categories, they are immediately quick. I think that was quite clear with Kimi, so that was not a surprise,” Verstappen said.

“But then, of course, when you get to Formula 1, it’s not only talent. Things have to come together. You need to become a more all-around driver and then, of course, you need to have the package to be able to do it. But I think this year he’s showing that once he has a package that can do it, he is delivering as a driver. So that’s great to see and that’s what he has to do,” was Verstappen’s advice. Sitting on the other side of the Italian, Hamilton nodded in agreement.

F1 fans are in for a treat, because Antonelli is the real deal, and someone who is already giving Verstappen a hard time. For enthusiasts, that hopefully means spectacular battles in the future, with two drivers who might just prove to be on the same level.