Why Andrea Kimi Antonelli is more like Max Verstappen than Franco Colapinto is

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Max Verstappen has developed into one of the best drivers on the grid in Formula 1 and cut out a lot of mistakes that plagued his early career.

The Dutchman is on the verge of his fourth consecutive world championship and could leave the Las Vegas Grand Prix with the title.

Verstappen has built a reputation for being peerless in the rain, which he showed at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix by taking the win from 17th on the grid.

He has also sharpened his skills in wheel-to-wheel combat and has got the better of Lando Norris most of the time this season when battling on the track.

The Red Bull racer’s driving style is very particular and has seen his teammates, including Alex Albon and Sergio Perez, struggle to drive with the same approach.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli will be looking to battle Verstappen next season when he makes his debut at Mercedes.

Peter Windsor also explained on his YouTube channel that the Italian is more similar to Verstappen than Franco Colapinto is.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli has ‘more feel’ than Franco Colapinto

Antonelli has ascended through the junior ranks and will become the youngest driver on the Formula 1 grid next season.

The Italian may have a similar approach to Verstappen, who enjoys a lot of grip on the front axle and a sharp turn-in on the steering wheel.

This technique is very difficult to master over a race distance and is different to the approach of Fernando Alonso who has preferred understeer over his career.

READ MORE: What senior Red Bull figures now think about Franco Colapinto move after his Sao Paulo Grand Prix crash

Peter Windsor explained that Colapinto drives in a similar way to Norris as he makes the entry to the turn very wide.

He said: “Colapinto, to my eye, is a budding Lando Norris-style driver. Wider entries, a very, very good feel for all the inputs, but by no means an early turn-in driver of the type, Max, Charles [Leclerc], Lewis [Hamilton], or even Oscar Piastri, for that matter.

“I think Antonelli actually goes into corners earlier. He’s got more feel for that than Colapinto. Colapinto has his own style. I’m not saying he doesn’t have feel.

“He’s got his own style, but he definitely drives more on the rear, definitely a wider entry. That’s why we saw him have some moments in Brazil, because he was catching the white line.”

Franco Colapinto now has very few options to be on the F1 grid in 2025

There are now very few seats available on the grid for 2025 after Sauber signed Gabriel Bortoleto, who learned a lot from his mentor Alonso.

The Swiss team completed their line-up as the Brazilian will partner Nico Hulkenberg. Colapinto doesn’t have a contract for next year and is only alongside Albon for this season.

There could be an opportunity at RB if Red Bull part ways with Perez and Liam Lawson graduates to the main team.

Colapinto’s arrival into F1 has boosted the sport’s popularity in his native Argentina, and the Williams driver’s influx of sponsors may help him land a seat.