Steiner Predicts Antonelli as 2026 Champion if He Keeps Cool, Russell as Runner-Up

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has boldly predicted that Kimi Antonelli will win the 2026 drivers’ championship if he can keep his cool, relegating Mercedes teammate George Russell to the runner-up spot. Steiner shared his forecast on The Red Flags Podcast, citing Antonelli’s composed start to the season as key evidence.

Why it matters:

Steiner’s prediction carries weight given his years of experience in the paddock and his ability to read driver dynamics. If correct, Antonelli would become the youngest Mercedes champion in the team’s hybrid-era dominance, while Russell would once again fall short of the ultimate prize despite being a top-tier talent.

The details:

• Antonelli leads the standings with 100 points after four rounds, following back-to-back wins in China and Japan and another victory in Miami. Russell sits second on 80 points.
• Steiner praised Russell as a “very good driver” but noted Antonelli is “slowly taking it away from him.” He warned that Antonelli must avoid the kind of mid-season meltdown that cost Oscar Piastri the 2025 title.
• “The thing which I mostly fear is that maybe he has got some issues and then loses his cool,” Steiner said, referencing Piastri’s collapse after the summer break last year.
• The current top four is completed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (59 points) and 2025 champion Lando Norris (51 points).

What’s next:

The season continues with the Canadian Grand Prix on May 22-24 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve — a track Russell considers one of his strongest. The weekend will test whether Antonelli can extend his lead or if Russell can close the gap, with Steiner’s prediction hanging in the balance.