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Ralf Schumacher says one rookie’s debut proves he’s not ‘the next Max Verstappen’

Originally posted on HITC | By David Comerford | Last updated Aug 13, 2025 12:44 PM ET

Max Verstappen made his Formula 1 debut with Toro Rosso in 2015, becoming the youngest driver in the sport’s history. Even at 17, he wasted no time showing that he belonged at that level.

Just one year later, Red Bull moved quickly to promote him to the senior team. Daniil Kvyat had already been involved in a couple of incidents by then, but the change was really about backing Verstappen’s superstar potential.

Since then, more than 25 drivers have entered F1, including names like Lando Norris, George Russell and Charles Leclerc. But none are spoken about as having quite the same level of potential as Verstappen.

Ralf Schumacher: Kimi Antonelli isn’t at Verstappen’s level yet

F1 has welcomed one of its largest groups of rookies this season, and among them, Kimi Antonelli has drawn the most attention. His arrival at Mercedes brought plenty of comparisons to Max Verstappen, but that might have set the bar too high.

A lot of that came from him stepping into Lewis Hamilton’s old seat, with fans hoping he could bring back some of the magic. Early on, it seemed like there was something there – especially after his pole in Miami and a podium finish in Canada.

Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images

But since then, things haven’t gone as smoothly. He had a rough moment when he collided with Verstappen at the start in Austria and then struggled through Spa without breaking into the top 15 in any session. Speaking to Bild, Ralf Schumacher said Antonelli needs time but may have been overhyped.

“I do believe Kimi is a strong racing driver, but he simply needs time,” he said. “He’s come through the junior series very quickly and therefore has relatively little experience. When everything’s right, he’s fast, but the car was obviously too complex. I wouldn’t call him the next Max Verstappen.”

Kimi Antonelli: Did he land at the right team in 2025?

Isack Hadjar has been called rookie of the year by many for his performances with Racing Bulls. The F2 runner-up from last season has only missed out on one Q3 appearance compared to Antonelli, despite racing in a midfield car.

There are some at Racing Bulls who have drawn parallels between Hadjar and Verstappen. It’s still fresh in their minds that Verstappen made his debut for Faenza just a year ago.

Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Fernando Alonso has also been vocal about Gabriel Bortoleto, another driver under his management. Bortoleto has started to turn heads too, especially with a P6 finish in Hungary recently.

As Schumacher pointed out, Antonelli’s rise through the ranks was rapid. He was still competing in karting as recently as 2021 and even skipped Formula 3 before having an uneven F2 campaign.

There are those who believe Antonelli would have been better served spending a season at Williams first, similar to how George Russell came through the ranks. Mercedes may have felt pressured into promoting him sooner than planned after Hamilton’s unexpected exit.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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