Former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner has raised eyebrows by suggesting George Russell’s position at Mercedes may be less secure than it appears, while Lewis Hamilton’s confirmed 2025 switch to Ferrari has given him the freedom to be openly critical of his current team.
The British driver’s decision to join Ferrari shook the F1 community when it was announced in February. Throughout the 2024 Formula One campaign, the seven-time world champion hasn’t held back in voicing his frustrations with the Mercedes W15, often calling out its limitations.
These frustrations reached a peak at the Brazilian Grand Prix, where he labeled the car as the “worst” he’s ever driven, describing it as handling like a “plank of wood.” After an early Q1 exit in qualifying, Lewis Hamilton managed to fight back and secure a single point on race day. However, he condemned the weekend’s results as a “disaster” and slammed the car’s performance as “unacceptable.”
“It is devastating to have these bad races in the second half of the season. But all I can say is that we’re trying coming into the weekends, but it is definitely not acceptable, it is definitely not good enough.” – the future Ferrari driver admitted.
Former Haas team boss Guenther Steiner suggests that Lewis Hamilton’s outspoken criticism of Mercedes this year is fueled by his impending move to the Maranello team, giving him the freedom to speak candidly without concern for his current position. However, Steiner cautions that George Russell, lacking the same job security as Lewis Hamilton, faces greater pressure to prove he can step up as Mercedes’ future leader.
While George Russell is set to remain with Mercedes through 2025, his contract expires at the season’s end, putting his long-term future under scrutiny. The former Haas team boss didn’t hold back when discussing this on the *Red Flag* podcast, emphasizing the difference in stakes between the two drivers as the team looks ahead.
“The car is what it is. It’s not the best car, it’s the fourth best car at the moment on a good day. I think Lewis knowing that he’s leaving anyway, it’s easier to complain. George has got all the interest to do whatever is there to show that he’s the leader of the team for the future. He has to prove that, because he knows when his Mercedes contract is up, his seat is not 100% safe, so he just tries to do his best, puts everything into it. And on the other side, Lewis doesn’t like the car and how it drives, knows that now in three races he’s not there anymore.”
Former Mercedes star and world champion Nico Rosberg has aligned with Steiner’s perspective, reiterating his warning from September that George Russell’s seat might not be as secure as it seems. Speculation is mounting as rookie Kimi Antonelli prepares to join George Russell in 2025, and talk swirls around team principal Toto Wolff’s interest in Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, a dominant three-time champion. These factors have only fueled questions about George Russell’s future with the team.
Despite the uncertainty, George Russell has performed strongly this season, claiming one race win, two pole positions, and two fastest laps, earning him sixth place in the driver standings. The 26-year-old appears unfazed by the speculation, even hinting at a mutual understanding with Mercedes leadership amidst the paddock rumors.
Leave a Reply