Verstappen, fourth title in a row: who's next?

Helmut Marko and his team (it's hard to know exactly who, but there’s certainly a Red Bull board that scouts young talent alongside the Kaiser) had a clear goal in mind: not just a strong driver, not even an excellent one, but a true one-of-a-kind – someone capable of smashing F1’s record books. They succeeded. Credit where it’s due; the work done with Verstappen and for Verstappen has been remarkable, even if it required patience.

 

Verstappen’s rise to the pinnacle wasn’t exactly quick (his first title came in 2021, following a debut in 2015 and an early promotion to the top team). Reproducing this trajectory with another driver in today’s F1 is a tall order. But now that his name sits at the summit of global sports, F1 needs another phenomenon to tell stories about. Despite being less of a “character” in the traditional sense, Verstappen’s journey has been worth following: yes, the son of a driver (and a formidable kart-driver mom, Sophie Kumpen, let’s not forget), but what a driver, what a father, and what a tough road to the ultimate goal. It’s a story of struggle, even hardship – reminiscent of Agassi’s tale in tennis, with its themes of sacrifice and overbearing parental figures. At its core, it’s a true sporting story, with karting indelibly marked into its DNA. Just one year in single-seaters (F3, in his case) preceded his F1 debut. Now let’s look ahead to 2025 and the future landscape.

 

The most natural name to associate with a post-Verstappen era is, of course, Andrea Kimi Antonelli. He boasts incredible potential, demonstrated on the track, alongside a “chosen one” career trajectory. His early contract with Mercedes predates the current academy boom, and one of F1’s most influential figures, Toto Wolff, has heavily invested in him. Wolff seems eager to cash in on this bet, potentially leveling the playing field with Red Bull, not so far from his backyard. But it’s still a gamble, and given F1’s ruthlessness, the enormous opportunity afforded to the young Italian might bring immense pressure. Unlike Red Bull, it’s hard to see Mercedes waiting seven years for a world title from Antonelli.

 

Zooming out, identifying other “alien talents” is no easy task. Not because there aren’t strong drivers around, but because the feeder series have changed. F2 has lost credibility as a stepping-stone, yet it remains an almost obligatory – and very expensive – stage. Many recent F1 entrants competed in F2, but excelling there hasn’t necessarily guaranteed a seat. Instead, F1 decisions often hinge on how a driver impresses once behind the wheel of an F1 car – even by chance (ask Felipe Drugovich or Theo Pourchaire). If Antonelli reaches F1, it won’t be thanks to his F2 results. In 2025, the only F2 driver on Red Bull’s radar might be Arvid Lindblad.
F3, meanwhile, has become the premier junior category where the most crucial cards are played. The 2025 roster looks promising, with talents like Ugo Ugochukwu, Tuukka Taponen, Rafa Câmara, Nikola Tsolov, and James Wharton. Additionally, the sons of F1 former drivers like Charlie Wurz and Brando Badoer are in the mix. Yet many of these drivers will likely disappear from F1’s radar within a few years.

 

Further down, a wave of karting talent – many tied to various academies – is on the horizon. These young drivers show immense promise, especially in their first two years in single-seaters. However, even with the best preparation and financial backing, there’s no guarantee of making it to F1. And once in F1, breaking through among the 20 elite drivers is no easy feat.

We must also consider current F1 drivers with sky-high potential, such as Oscar Piastri, and rookies like Liam Lawson and Ollie Bearman. Additionally, prospects on the brink of F1, like Gabriele Minì, bring compelling stories and raw talent to the table.
Are we heading toward a future of less domination by one driver or team, and a more “democratic” F1 where multiple top-level drivers compete in tighter championships with greater unpredictability? Perhaps. For now, hats off to Max Verstappen.