Former team boss Günther Steiner does not think George Russell still has a very big chance of winning the world title this year. The Mercedes driver was the title favorite before the current season, but has since had to hand over this baton to his teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Steiner even dares to put a percentage on Russell’s remaining chance: ‘Five percent’.
Read more Frédéric Vasseur wants to continue Ferrari’s upgrade offensive: ‘Maintain momentum’
During the Hungarian GP, George Russell once again saw teammate and world championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli disappear on the horizon. While the Brit fell back in the field due to a poor start, the young Italian was able to compete for the podium places. Kimi Antonelli thus scored valuable points for the championship with his third place.
Russell experienced bad luck several times during the first half of the season – he even retired from the race in both Canada and Belgium – and after the Hungarian Grand Prix, he sighed for the first time that he really needed a summer break. Former Haas team boss Günther Steiner examines Russell’s further title chances in 2026. The Italian comes with a clear judgment: “I think he still has a five percent chance,” he says in the Red Flags podcast.
Read more Mercedes top man Bradley Lord predicts: ‘The tough part of the season is only just beginning’
‘Russell has been lucky’
Steiner then examines Russell’s latest ‘bad luck’. At the start of the Hungarian Grand Prix, the Brit’s W17 went into anti-stall mode, causing him to fall back from P6 to P20. “Mercedes took part of the blame themselves – did they do that just to keep him happy, or did they really mean it?” Steiner wonders. “I don’t know, but I think he was very lucky to get away with it and not be hit by anyone. Considering the position so far up front, and how long he stayed still there… he was lucky.”
Read more Isack Hadjar started the Red Bull adventure with doubts: ‘We are talking about Max here’
Read everything about the Dutch GP in Zandvoort here
