Former Haas team principal Günther Steiner has delivered a stark assessment of the 2026 Formula 1 season, predicting Max Verstappen will conclude the year without a single Grand Prix victory. Steiner also offered a cynical outlook on George Russell’s championship aspirations, assigning him only a ‘five per cent’ chance of securing the title.
Steiner’s analysis suggests Red Bull Racing’s current car package lacks the necessary performance to challenge Mercedes and McLaren consistently over a full race distance. Verstappen, a four-time world champion, currently sits sixth in the Drivers’ Championship with 145 points, trailing leader Kimi Antonelli by 147 points.
The Dutchman’s best results this season include second-place finishes in Austria, Hungary, and Spain. Red Bull remains the only team within the top four in the constructors’ standings yet to secure a Grand Prix victory this year.
Steiner attributes Red Bull’s limitations to the car’s inherent performance rather than driver execution. Verstappen himself has acknowledged a pace shortfall, pointing to issues with energy deployment and chassis performance as key weaknesses of the RB22.
Red Bull has confirmed a ‘car degradation’ issue with the RB22, a complex problem that the team admits cannot be fully resolved during the 2026 season and may persist into 2027. Verstappen has frequently voiced concerns about the car’s performance deteriorating over race weekends.
Regarding George Russell, Steiner’s comments highlight a challenging season for the Mercedes driver. Russell has experienced multiple setbacks, including a seventh-place finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix, which saw him drop to third in the standings behind teammate Kimi Antonelli.
Antonelli currently leads the Drivers’ Championship by 81 points over Russell, with nine rounds remaining in the season. Steiner has suggested that Mercedes has clarified Russell’s role for the remainder of 2026 is to support Antonelli’s title bid.
Steiner believes Russell’s position at Mercedes remains secure, but potentially no longer as the team’s primary driver, given Antonelli’s emergence as a significant force this season. Antonelli has secured eight victories so far in 2026.
Russell initially led the championship after the opening two rounds but has since struggled to adapt to the new generation of Formula 1 machinery. While he expressed deflation about his title chances after the Madrid Grand Prix, he has since adopted a more determined stance, vowing to fight as long as it is mathematically possible.
Russell is currently second in the Drivers’ Championship with 211 points. He has confirmed he will not incur a power-unit grid penalty at the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix, though he anticipates one later in the season.
Steiner also speculated on Russell’s future, suggesting the British driver might be exploring options away from Mercedes, with Audi mentioned as a potential destination for the 2028 season.
Steiner stated on the Red Flag Podcast, ‘I’d give him five per cent.’
