Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner has predicted that George Russell will end the 2026 season as runner-up if Kimi Antonelli can "keep his cool".
While we are only four rounds into the season, Steiner has seen enough to boldly predict the final drivers' championship standings.
During an appearance on The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner discussed Antonelli's impressive start. The Italian driver took the lead in the standings after back-to-back wins in China and Japan and has since extended his advantage over Russell to 20 points after another victory in Miami.
"It's not only that you need the machine, but his team-mate is George Russell. He has got a good team-mate, a very good driver, who I rate highly," Steiner said. "And I thought it's his time to bring it home this year, the championship. But I think Kimi is slowly taking it away from him, if he can keep his cool.
"George, I think he will be the vice champion, not the champion."
When asked if he thought it was now Antonelli's championship to lose, the former team chief added: "He still needs to win it. But he's showing all the signs of not being bothered by whatever is happening. The thing which I mostly fear is that maybe he has got some issues and then loses his cool about it, a little bit like Oscar did last year.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
"He was well in command before the summer break, and after the summer break, two things happened which he didn't like, and he lost the championship. Maybe it is for him to lose, but I think we are early in the season."
The season will continue with the Canadian Grand Prix on 22-24 May at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, a track that Russell argues is one of his strongest. Heading into the Canadian Grand Prix, Antonelli leads the drivers' standings on 100 points, with Russell following on 80 points in second. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc sits third with 59 points and 2025 champion Lando Norris is fourth with 51 points.
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