News Summary
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli named Max Verstappen as his biggest threat for the 2027 Formula 1 championship.
- Ralf Schumacher predicted George Russell could become Antonelli’s equivalent of Rubens Barrichello at Mercedes.
- Williams confirmed Victor Martins for reserve duties in Las Vegas, while the FIA scheduled a hearing that could change the Italian GP result.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s warning about Max Verstappen and Ralf Schumacher’s controversial prediction for George Russell dominated Friday’s Formula 1 coverage. The newly crowned world champion expects a tougher fight in 2027, while Schumacher believes the internal balance at Mercedes has already shifted decisively towards the Italian.
Elsewhere, Williams confirmed Victor Martins as its reserve driver for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, and the FIA set a date for Audi’s appeal against the decision not to penalise Yuki Tsunoda at Monza.
GRANDE PRÊMIO also examined the changing fortunes of McLaren and Audi, while the F1 Academy championship prepared for its Las Vegas finale.
Antonelli names Verstappen as biggest threat to 2027 title
Andrea Kimi Antonelli believes Max Verstappen will be the most dangerous opponent in his first Formula 1 world championship defence.
“If I had to choose one driver, I would say Max. He’s the one who might cause me the most problems,” Antonelli said.
The Mercedes driver also expressed his hope of fighting Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Lando Norris, anticipating a closer contest between the leading teams.
Verstappen’s recent form supports Antonelli’s assessment. The Red Bull driver has scored 116 points across the latest five Grands Prix, compared with the champion’s 88, as Mercedes’ early advantage has diminished.
Read the full story: Antonelli names Verstappen as biggest threat to 2027 F1 title defence ahead of Hamilton and Norris.
Ralf Schumacher predicts Russell will become Antonelli’s Barrichello
Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher believes Russell faces the prospect of becoming Mercedes’ second driver behind Antonelli.
“In my view, George Russell will become Kimi Antonelli’s Barrichello. I have absolutely no doubt about that,” Schumacher told Sky Sport Germany.
The comparison refers to Rubens Barrichello’s years alongside Michael Schumacher at Ferrari. Ralf Schumacher also criticised Russell’s mistakes during the São Paulo Grand Prix, describing his spin at the pit-lane exit as embarrassing.
Schumacher believes Russell’s best hope of reversing the situation would be for the 2027 Mercedes to suit his driving style better than Antonelli’s.
Mercedes, however, has not announced an official driver hierarchy, and team principal Toto Wolff has continued to defend Russell’s contribution.
Read the full story: Ralf Schumacher says Russell’s fate is sealed at Mercedes: ‘He’ll be Antonelli’s Barrichello’.
Williams names Victor Martins reserve driver for Las Vegas
Williams confirmed that Victor Martins will serve as its reserve driver during the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend.
The Frenchman will cover for Luke Browning, whose commitments in Japan’s Super Formula championship prevent him from carrying out his usual duties.
Martins, the 2022 Formula 3 champion, will join Williams’ Formula 1 operation without replacing either Carlos Sainz or Alexander Albon in the race line-up.
The announcement comes as Williams attempts to recover from a difficult sequence of results, having failed to score in the latest five Grands Prix.
Read the full story: Williams names Victor Martins as F1 reserve driver for Las Vegas Grand Prix.
FIA sets November 25 hearing for Audi appeal
The FIA has scheduled a hearing for November 25 to examine Audi’s appeal against the stewards’ decision not to penalise Yuki Tsunoda at the Italian Grand Prix.
The dispute concerns an additional formation lap at Monza and whether Tsunoda should have received a penalty under the sporting regulations.
The Racing Bulls driver finished tenth, immediately ahead of Gabriel Bortoleto. A successful appeal could therefore promote the Audi driver into the points, although the race classification has not been changed.
The International Court of Appeal will consider the case in Paris, with a decision expected after the hearing.
Read the full story: FIA sets November 25 hearing for Audi appeal that could give Bortoleto extra F1 point.
Piastri’s McLaren deficit grows as Audi enjoys late improvement
Two analyses published by GRANDE PRÊMIO on Friday highlighted contrasting developments across the 2026 championship.
At McLaren, Oscar Piastri has lost 85 points to Lando Norris over the latest ten Grands Prix, despite outscoring his teammate during one of the earlier five-race periods. Norris has collected 143 points across those ten races, compared with Piastri’s 58.
Read: Piastri outscores Norris once before losing 85 points to McLaren teammate in ten F1 races.
Audi, meanwhile, has scored 11 of its 28 championship points in the latest five Grands Prix, equivalent to 39.3% of its season total. Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg remain level on 14 points.
Read: Audi scores nearly 40% of its F1 points in five races as Bortoleto and Hülkenberg improve.
F1 Academy runner-up battle heads to Las Vegas
Although Alisha Palmowski has already secured the 2026 F1 Academy championship, second place remains undecided ahead of the final round.
Nina Gademan has 119 points, six ahead of Emma Felbermayr, with two races remaining in Las Vegas.
The season finale will take place alongside the Formula 1 Grand Prix, with a reverse-grid race and a feature race deciding the remaining championship positions.
Read the full preview: F1 Academy title decided, but six-point battle for second heads to Las Vegas finale.
When is the next Formula 1 race?
Formula 1 returns to the Las Vegas Strip Circuit on November 19–21, with the Grand Prix scheduled for Saturday evening in Nevada.
The race begins at 8 PM Pacific Time on November 21, corresponding to 11 PM Eastern Time and 4 AM GMT on Sunday, November 22.
Antonelli and Mercedes have already secured the drivers’ and constructors’ championships, but the battle for second place and several midfield positions remains open.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the 2026 Formula 1 championship.
FAQ
What were the biggest F1 stories on November 13, 2026?
Antonelli identified Verstappen as his biggest 2027 rival, Ralf Schumacher predicted Russell could become Mercedes’ second driver, and Williams named Victor Martins its reserve for Las Vegas.
What did Antonelli say about Verstappen?
Antonelli said Verstappen was the driver most likely to cause him problems in the 2027 Formula 1 championship.
When is the next F1 Grand Prix?
The Las Vegas Grand Prix starts on Saturday, November 21, at 8 PM PST, corresponding to Sunday, November 22, at 4 AM GMT.
Alternative headlines
- F1 Today: Antonelli warns of Verstappen as Russell faces Schumacher criticism
- F1 Today November 13: Verstappen, Antonelli, Russell and Las Vegas news
- F1 Today: Mercedes rivalry intensifies as Williams confirms Las Vegas reserve
Tags: Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Max Verstappen, George Russell, Formula 1
Slug: f1-today-antonelli-verstappen-russell-williams-november-13-2026
Meta description: F1 Today November 13: Antonelli names Verstappen his biggest rival, Ralf Schumacher warns Russell, Williams confirms Martins and Audi awaits FIA hearing.
