Van der Hulst makes case for a Verstappen–Antonelli title fight in 2027

A title fight between Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli would be the contest Formula 1 needs in 2027, argues columnist Pepijn van der Hulst. He writes that Antonelli has repeatedly identified Verstappen as his main rival for 2027. Antonelli became world champion in 2026 in his second F1 season, with nine victories, beating Mercedes teammate George Russell.

Van der Hulst ties that prospect to a narrowing gap among the leading teams during 2026. Mercedes began the season dominant, he writes, but the other top teams increasingly joined the fight for wins. Verstappen won in Malaysia, Singapore and Mexico in 2026, while Lando Norris won in Brazil in 2026. Verstappen also climbed to second in the 2026 standings despite a difficult start. Van der Hulst says the trend recalls 2010, when five drivers from different teams remained in the title fight until the end.

Formula 1 is due another rules change in 2027; the split between combustion-engine and battery power is set to move in two steps toward roughly 60/40 in 2028. Van der Hulst says a wider fight, with more teams and drivers such as Norris and Lewis Hamilton, would make the spectacle even better. But he acknowledges that the gap to the midfield remains immense, and says how competitive 2027 becomes will depend on the leading teams' development.