Key Highlights:
- Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner warned that Mercedes could alter its driver lineup if George Russell does not improve his performance by the end of next season.
- Steiner compared Russell’s current internal struggle alongside Kimi Antonelli to Daniel Ricciardo’s career-altering downturn against Lando Norris at McLaren.
- Russell currently trails his championship-leading teammate Antonelli by 123 points and sits just a single point ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton heading into the Mexican Grand Prix.
Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner has sounded a cautionary alarm regarding George Russell’s future at Mercedes, suggesting that the Brackley-based squad may look to replace the British driver if his form does not rebound by the conclusion of next season.
Russell began the 2026 campaign as a distinct frontrunner, but the balance of power inside Mercedes shifted rapidly as his teammate, Kimi Antonelli, emerged as a dominant force. Antonelli became the youngest driver in Formula 1 history to lead the championship standings following consecutive victories at the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix. The young prodigy has since mounted a dominant season, collecting nine grand prix victories in total and putting himself on the verge of capturing his maiden F1 world championship title.
Steiner Draws Parallels to Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren Struggles
Heading into the Mexican Grand Prix weekend, Russell remains second in the drivers’ championship but faces a massive 123-point deficit behind Antonelli. Furthermore, the 28-year-old Briton is contending with fierce pressure from behind: Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton is trailing him by only a single point in third place, with a mere nine points covering second through fifth position in the standings.
Analyzing the dynamics at play, Steiner stated that Russell’s primary challenges stem from a deficit in self-belief rather than the machinery beneath him. Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner concurred with an assessment that the situation closely mirrors the decline suffered by eight-time race winner Daniel Ricciardo during his difficult stint at McLaren.
I think it is more a Daniel Ricciardo situation than Lewis,
Steiner said, referencing how Ricciardo was consistently outperformed by Lando Norris before McLaren terminated his contract early at the conclusion of 2022, after which his career never fully rebounded.
I hope he can find his way back, because Daniel unfortunately didn’t really find his way back, because it even got worse for him when he was let go by McLaren at the time. That basically destroyed him,
Steiner added. But George having people around him who believe in him, like Toto, that will help.
Championship Demands and Wolff’s Ultimate Priority
While Steiner noted that having the steadfast personal backing of Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff provides Russell with vital stability, he stressed that the team’s commercial and competitive ambitions will inevitably dictate future personnel decisions if the results fail to materialize.
End of next year, I think, if he’s in the same position as now, Mercedes, and it’s not a personal thing for Toto, Mercedes will be looking, ‘what do we need to do here to be manufacturer world champion?’ because that is what they are here to do, and you cannot hold that against them,
Steiner explained.
The former Haas boss concluded: If George doesn’t bring the performance, there will be changes. I’m not saying that they are actively working for changes, they give him time, but if it doesn’t happen, they will make changes.
Why This Matters
In modern Formula 1, securing the Constructors’ Championship requires two consistently high-scoring drivers, particularly when rivals like Ferrari and McLaren mount multi-car threats. If an intra-team performance gap widens significantly, top-tier teams cannot afford to sacrifice points in their pursuit of titles. With Kimi Antonelli quickly establishing himself as Mercedes’ primary championship contender, Russell faces the challenge of reasserting his authority within the squad or risking the same fate that has unseated other high-profile drivers when matched against generational young talents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does George Russell currently sit in the championship?
Heading into the Mexican Grand Prix, George Russell sits second in the drivers’ championship, 123 points adrift of teammate Kimi Antonelli, and just one point ahead of Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton in third.
Why did Guenther Steiner compare Russell to Daniel Ricciardo?
Steiner pointed out that Russell’s situation is rooted in confidence rather than the car, drawing a comparison to Daniel Ricciardo’s spiral at McLaren when being decisively outperformed by Lando Norris, a downturn from which Ricciardo never fully recovered.
Will Mercedes make an immediate driver change?
According to Steiner, Mercedes is not actively pursuing immediate changes and is giving Russell time to rebound with the support of team boss Toto Wolff. However, Steiner warned that if Russell remains in the same position by the end of next season, the team will make changes to protect its championship ambitions.
