Reported
Steiner suggests George Russell could become Mercedes’ ‘next Valtteri Bottas’
Former F1 Team Principal Guenther Steiner discusses George Russell's potential future at Mercedes amid Antonelli's dominance.
Former Formula 1 Team Principal Guenther Steiner believes that Mercedes driver George Russell could become the team’s ‘next Valtteri Bottas’ according to Motorsport Week. This assessment comes as Russell currently sits second in the Drivers’ standings, a significant 59 points behind his teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who has had a dominant second season in the sport.
Russell's Season Performance
Russell began the 2026 season as an early title favorite, setting an assertive tone with an opening-race victory in Australia. However, Antonelli’s subsequent blistering run of form quickly shifted the momentum, as the Italian secured six wins compared to Russell’s two, with Russell’s second victory achieved in Austria. While Russell has experienced his share of misfortune, he also appears to have struggled more consistently to adapt to the German marque's W17 challenger, a machine Antonelli has seemingly mastered with greater ease.
In the twelve rounds completed so far, Antonelli leads the championship with 219 points, while Russell holds 160 points. Other front-runners include Lewis Hamilton with 169 points, Charles Leclerc with 138 points, and Lando Norris with 128 points. Valtteri Bottas, the Finnish driver, is currently 21st in the standings with 0 points, highlighting the competitive landscape.
Steiner's Analysis
Speaking on the Red Flags Podcast, Steiner was asked directly about the possibility of Russell becoming the ‘next Bottas’, a role Bottas fulfilled as a dutiful number two to Lewis Hamilton during their three seasons together. Steiner was inclined to believe this scenario is plausible. He commented, “That’s a tough question. Let’s see how he reacts. It looks like it. I don’t know if he’s or not, but it looks like it – it really looks like it.” This suggests Steiner perceives a similar dynamic forming between Antonelli and Russell as previously existed between Hamilton and Bottas.
Despite this, Steiner also noted that Russell might harbor ambitions that could lead him away from the Silver Arrows, especially if Antonelli continues his trend of dominance by winning the current title. Steiner asserted, “But it’s in his own control as well. Valtteri obviously was happy to be that because he stayed there forever.” He further elaborated on Russell’s potential choices, stating, “If George is not happy with that, he needs to find something else to do. It’s not easy to find something else to do, because there’s no seats for next year, but 2028, maybe.” Steiner concluded that if Russell does not wish to be a long-term second driver, the decision to seek opportunities elsewhere would ultimately rest with him, not with Mercedes.
Recent Race Outcomes
Russell recently displayed improved form at the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, securing victory in the Sprint Race before finishing third in the main Grand Prix. During the race, he allowed Antonelli to pass into second place due to a team arrangement, illustrating the team’s strategy and Antonelli’s priority status. The Dutch Grand Prix was won by Lando Norris, with Antonelli finishing 11.536 seconds behind.
The next Formula 1 round is the Italian Grand Prix, with the first session scheduled for Friday, September 4th, at 13:30 Finnish time.
Status And Sources
This story is labelled Reported, which means a newsroom we cite carries this but the people involved have not confirmed it. The rules behind those labels are in the editorial policy, and the desk that published it is Eero Lahtinen.
Written from the following reporting. Each link goes to the newsroom's own page, not to an aggregator:
- Motorsport Weekmotorsportweek.com
