Jacques Villeneuve has identified a notable difference in driving precision between Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen, following the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Antonelli, currently leading the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship, finished second at the Sepang International Circuit, while Verstappen secured his first victory of the season.
The 1997 World Champion highlighted an incident during the Sepang race where Antonelli ran wide in the final corner, clipping a bollard at the pit entry. This error, while not causing damage, narrowly avoided a mandatory pit stop, according to Villeneuve.
Villeneuve stated on Sky F1 that Verstappen ‘very, very rarely makes mistakes’ and demonstrates ‘incredible precision’ when performing at his peak. He contrasted this with Antonelli’s recurring small errors, including a previous mistake during qualifying in Azerbaijan.
The Canadian believes this margin for error would be a significant factor if Antonelli and Verstappen were engaged in a direct championship battle. However, he noted that Red Bull’s improved performance has come ‘too late this season’ for Verstappen to mount a full title challenge.
Antonelli currently holds a substantial 84-point lead over his Mercedes teammate George Russell in the Drivers’ Standings. He has accumulated 320 points, positioning him strongly for the championship with seven Grands Prix and one sprint race remaining.
Verstappen, despite his recent win, sits in sixth place in the standings with 188 points, 132 points behind Antonelli. The Red Bull RB22 has faced challenges this season, including issues with aerodynamic pressure and engine reliability, contributing to four retirements for Verstappen.
The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia itself was marked by chaotic conditions. Heavy rain and software problems with the engine regulations led to delays and cars stopping on track during formation laps, prompting criticism from drivers including Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton.
George Russell’s championship hopes suffered a significant setback at Sepang when a power unit failure forced his retirement five laps from the finish. This incident widened the gap to Antonelli by 18 points.
Russell now faces the prospect of potential back-to-back grid penalties in upcoming races, including Singapore, if his damaged power unit from Malaysia is irreparable and he requires new components before an anticipated Mercedes upgrade at the United States Grand Prix.
Antonelli acknowledged learning from Verstappen’s handling of a safety car restart on slick tyres during the slippery Sepang track conditions. He admitted being ‘annoyed’ by Verstappen’s decisive overtake for the lead.
Villeneuve previously commented earlier this season on Antonelli exhibiting what he termed ‘champion’s luck,’ drawing parallels to Michael Schumacher’s career.
With the current points advantage, Antonelli could mathematically secure the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship as early as the United States Grand Prix on October 25, depending on the results from the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix.
