David Coulthard believes F1 could be set for a new era of “big rivalries” with current championship leader Kimi Antonelli facing off against the ‘old generation’ of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. 

Antonelli leads the 2026 standings by 59 points after 12 races and is closing in on becoming the youngest-ever F1 champion if he does claim the title after seven wins from those 12 grands prix.

This included five wins on the trot between China and Monaco as he dominated the early part of the season, before settling into consistent points scoring, including a third in Hungary and second in the Netherlands either side of the summer break. 

The Italian leads team-mate George Russell, who is equal on points with Hamilton in a tie for second, with reigning champion Lando Norris building up a head of steam with two successive wins. 

Verstappen, Hamilton, and Norris, with a combined 190 grand prix wins and 12 drivers’ titles, represent the champions’ guard, with the likes of Antonelli, Oscar Piastri, George Russell, and Charles Leclerc all set to remain on the grid for the long-term.

It is something 13-time grand prix winner Coulthard believes is setting up the next generation of “big rivalries” in 2021, the last of which was Hamilton vs Verstappen in 2021.

“I think it’s getting competitive now with McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull, of course, who will continue to develop,” Coulthard exclusively told RacingNews365. 

“So if McLaren suddenly, or Ferrari, or if George and him start taking points off each other and Ferrari are in the mix, it’s not going to be easy because it was more dominant for McLaren last year, and then they only won by two, three points in the end. 

“But I think Kimi is very impressive. 

When then asked if F1 could be set for an ‘Antonelli vs Verstappen’ era, Coulthard spoke of the “big rivalries” starting to be formed.

“[Lewis] Hamilton’s back in the mix and equal second in the championship, having been two, three years not very good, so this era is a window of opportunity for the older guys, and it’s a window of opportunity for the younger guys,” he added.

“So let’s see. But in Formula 1, just because somebody has talent doesn’t always mean they get the car. But Mercedes has a good car. 

“Antonelli is well supported. He feels embedded at Mercedes for the next several years; Max is here for the next several, Charles [Leclerc] at Ferrari, so we’re starting to build these big rivalries.”