Ecclestone Names Antonelli and Verstappen as Only Title Contenders, Leaves Russell Out

Bernie Ecclestone has narrowed down this year's title fight to two drivers, and only one of them wears Mercedes silver. The former F1 supremo believes Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen will duel for the 2026 championship, leaving George Russell out of the conversation.

Why it matters:

After four rounds, Mercedes teammates Antonelli and Russell hold a 1-2 in the standings, with the 19-year-old Italian leading by 20 points. But Ecclestone sees Red Bull's resurgence as a game-changer, putting Verstappen back in contention despite a 74-point gap to Antonelli.

The details:

• Antonelli became F1's youngest-ever championship leader after Japan and backed it up with a Miami win – his third consecutive victory from pole position.
• Ecclestone told Swiss newspaper Blick: "Antonelli or Verstappen will be world champion. Red Bull has apparently overcome the slump. Max has caught fire again – and then he's dangerous."
• Verstappen was just 0.166s off Antonelli's qualifying pace in Miami after being eight-tenths behind earlier in the season. A first-lap spin and long stint on hards still netted him fifth.
• Red Bull brought seven new parts to Miami, signaling a major step forward.
• Verstappen previously overturned a 46-point deficit to win the 2022 title against Charles Leclerc, but has never recovered from a 74-point gap.

What's next:

With Red Bull's upgrades proving effective, the gap to Mercedes is closing fast. Verstappen's comeback momentum from last season – he erased a 104-point deficit to finish second in 2025 – shows he thrives when the car improves. The real battle begins at Imola, where both teams will bring further updates.