Rising F1 star’s 'Next Max Verstappen' label bluntly shot down

Ralf Schumacher has dismissed the notion that Kimi Antonelli is the "next Max Verstappen", despite acknowledging the young Italian is a "strong" F1 driver.

The 18-year-old is broadly considered a generational talent, the potentially first to ascend to the championship since the Dutchman did in 2015.

However, Schumacher does not feel the Mercedes driver is heir to the four-time F1 drivers' champion's throne, explaining how Antonelli "simply needs time" to find his feet at the so-called pinnacle of motorsport.

"I do believe Kimi is a strong racing driver, but he simply needs time," the six-time grand prix winner told German publication BILD.

"He’s come through the junior series very quickly and therefore has relatively little experience."

Having skipped FIA F3 entirely, in a similar way to how Verstappen forwent GP2, the one-time podium finisher arrived in F1 with a sole season of F2 under his belt, and was little more than a year removed from winning the Formula Regional championship.

Schumacher highlighted Antonelli's steep rise up the junior pyramid, but believes it is a stretch to hold him in the same regard as the Dutchman at this stage.

The Red Bull driver started his F1 journey with Toro Rosso, but was promoted to the main team after little more than a year, where he won on debut for the team, becoming the youngest winner in the championship's history.

Whilst he endured his challenges as he developed under the bright lights of Formula 1, he has grown into the class of the field, underlined by his run of four consecutive F1 drivers' titles.

Schumacher highlighted how Antonelli is struggling with the complexity of the W16, which has proven, like the ground effects Mercedes before it, to be a temperamental and inconsistent car.

"When everything’s right, he’s fast, but the car was obviously too complex," the former Jordan, Williams, and Toyota driver said.

He then concluded with his direct takedown of the expectations placed at the young Italian's feet: "I wouldn’t call him the next Max Verstappen."