Bernie Ecclestone is blunt about Kimi Antonelli

Bernie Ecclestone has endorsed the new direction of Formula 1. In an interview with *Blick*, the former head of the Formula 1 circuit revealed that he appreciates the new cars in the premier class of motorsport and considers the races spectacular and “thrilling.”

“Yes, the 2026 races excite me,” he said. “They’re thrilling and spectacular; even in Hungary—where the race is usually just a procession to the finish line—there were overtakes. Verstappen’s performance is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the entire 2026 season,” said Ecclestone.

The former F1 boss also weighed in on the title race: “Kimi Antonelli will win the World Championship, even though Verstappen remains the best driver on the track.”

Antonelli leads the standings with 219 points, holding a 50-point lead over Lewis Hamilton and a 59-point lead over his teammate George Russell. With six wins under his belt—including the Monaco Grand Slam and his triumph at Spa-Francorchamps, which made him the first Italian to win at the Belgian circuit since Alberto Ascari in 1953—the 19-year-old Mercedes driver has had a simply dominant first half of the season.

Max Verstappen, interviewed by Sky Sports, had words of great praise for the young Mercedes driver: “I think that, if we look at the top of the standings, Kimi has done a really great job. Really strong, really solid—the strongest on the team. It’s great to see him. First and foremost, he’s a good person and a very strong driver, so it’s a great combination. He’s also had some bad luck in a few Grand Prix races, but he hasn’t let it get him down and has been rock-solid so far.”