Guenther Steiner Warns Mercedes May Replace George Russell by 2027

Guenther Steiner, the former Haas F1 team principal, has indicated that Mercedes might look to replace George Russell if his performance does not improve by the end of the 2027 season.

Russell, who began the 2026 season as a favorite, is currently second in the championship standings, trailing teammate Kimi Antonelli, who has won nine races this season and is close to securing his first F1 title. With only 123 points separating Russell from Antonelli, he faces pressure from competitors, including Lewis Hamilton from Ferrari, who is just one point behind him.

Steiner noted that Russell's challenges appear to stem from a lack of confidence rather than issues with the car, drawing parallels to Daniel Ricciardo's struggles at McLaren. He emphasized that while Russell has the support of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, the team will not hesitate to make changes if necessary to achieve their championship goals.