Günther Steiner believes George Russell is already exploring alternatives to Mercedes and could consider a move to Audi for the 2028 Formula 1 season. The former Haas team principal claims the British driver may not want to remain alongside Kimi Antonelli indefinitely, particularly after a difficult first half of 2026.
Mercedes has made it clear—although it has yet to issue official confirmation—that Kimi Antonelli and George Russell are expected to remain its driver pairing for 2027. However, Steiner believes the balance within the team could eventually persuade George Russell to pursue a new opportunity elsewhere.
George Russell reportedly considering his future beyond Mercedes
Once again, the numerous rumours surrounding a potential move to Mercedes for Max Verstappen have not materialised this year. Recent speculation over Max Verstappen and Toto Wolff’s relationship nevertheless showed that questions surrounding the Brackley team’s future driver line-up have not entirely disappeared.
More dramatic changes could still take place over the medium term. After what happened during the first half of the 2026 season, George Russell is believed to be assessing his options and considering whether his long-term future should remain with the team that developed his Formula 1 career.
Steiner, who now owns the Tech3 MotoGP team, raised the possibility of George Russell leaving Mercedes after the 2027 season during a recent episode of the Red Flags podcast, on which he appears regularly.
George Russell is understood to have been deeply affected by the outcome of the opening half of the campaign. He has consistently been beaten by Kimi Antonelli while also enduring an apparently endless sequence of technical failures and reliability problems with his Mercedes.
The situation has already prompted wider questions about George Russell’s position alongside Kimi Antonelli. Steiner believes the British driver could therefore hold serious discussions with rival teams during 2027, especially if Kimi Antonelli continues producing the same level of results.
“I think George is looking around now, knowing that he is currently with Kimi,” Günther Steiner said. “He doesn’t want to stay with Kimi for the rest of his life because he already knows what his situation will always be there. So he is trying to find new opportunities.”
Günther Steiner identifies Audi as an option for George Russell
According to Günther Steiner, Audi could represent an attractive destination. The Hinwil-based team can offer the prestige of its brand, full works-team status and tangible signs of improving performance, all of which have created optimism about the project’s direction.
“There is a lot of interest from drivers in moving to Audi for 2028,” Günther Steiner explained. “The situation is virtually settled for next year, but perhaps there is an opportunity for 2028.
“It is quite an interesting team because it is making good progress and its project appears to be heading in the right direction. I think there would be quite a few candidates. One of them is certainly Carlos Sainz.”
George Russell and Carlos Sainz could compete for one Audi seat
If Mattia Binotto and Allan McNish have no intention of losing a developing young talent such as Gabriel Bortoleto, only one Audi seat would potentially become available for 2028: the position currently occupied by Nico Hülkenberg.
That could leave George Russell and Carlos Sainz competing for the same opportunity. Any possible Audi move remains speculative and would depend on decisions made across the 2027 season, but Steiner does not consider the prospect unrealistic for either driver.
George Russell’s eventual choice may also be influenced by whether Kimi Antonelli continues consolidating his position at Mercedes. Although questions remain over whether Kimi Antonelli is ready to become an F1 champion, his results have already had a significant effect on the internal dynamic at Brackley.
Only time will reveal whether George Russell and Carlos Sainz genuinely emerge as contenders for Audi’s potential 2028 vacancy. For now, however, the German manufacturer’s progress has made it an increasingly intriguing option within the Formula 1 driver market.
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