Former Haas Components 1 workforce principal Guenther Steiner believes George Russell is already exploring choices outdoors of Mercedes, suggesting the British driver may very well be evaluating a possible swap to Audi for the 2028 F1 season.
Regardless of holding a seat at Mercedes, Russell’s future on the Brackley outfit has grow to be a subject of debate following the spectacular efficiency of his teenage team-mate Kimi Antonelli.
The Italian turned the youngest driver to guide the drivers’ championship after back-to-back wins in China and Japan and has since gone from energy to energy. Heading into the summer time break, Antonelli leads the standings with 219 factors. He’s adopted by Lewis Hamilton with 169 factors and Russell with 160 factors.
Throughout an look on The Purple Flags Podcast, Steiner prompt that the interior dynamic at Mercedes is already pushing Russell to think about his choices for the long run. Along with his battle with Antonelli, Russell may be feeling the strain from the rising hypothesis linking four-time champion Max Verstappen to Mercedes.
Whereas Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has confirmed he want to retain his present driver line-up for 2027 and Russell has additionally reaffirmed his dedication to his workforce, Steiner argued that Russell might take a look at Audi for 2028.
“There’s plenty of curiosity from drivers to go to Audi for 2028,” he stated. “For subsequent yr they’re fairly set, however there’s possibly a chance in 2028 at Audi.
George Russell, Mercedes
Photograph by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos
“That is fairly an attention-grabbing place as a result of they’re making good progress. It appears to be on monitor, what they’re doing. I believe there can be fairly a number of candidates. Carlos [Sainz] for certain.
“I believe George can also be trying round now, figuring out that he’s now with Kimi. He does not wish to stick with Kimi for the remainder of his life, as a result of there he is aware of the place he’s for the remainder of his life. So, he’s looking for new alternatives.”
Audi accomplished its full takeover of Sauber at the beginning of the 2026 season, securing Mattia Binotto and former Purple Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley in management roles. It has been creating its energy unit since 2022. Audi boasts the backing of an automotive powerhouse within the type of the Volkswagen Group, which has invested closely within the outfit, offering the sources and technical know-how obligatory to construct a championship-contending operation from the bottom up.
In fact, none of this implies Russell is leaving Brackley for rival German soil, however a works Audi seat in 2028 would not less than give Russell a undertaking he might personal quite than a throne he is at present preventing to defend.
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