Steiner triggers intrigue with Russell-to-Audi prediction

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The Formula 1 driver market is enjoying its summer lull, but Guenther Steiner has just sent a fresh wave of speculation rippling through the paddock.

The former Haas team boss believes George Russell is already scanning the horizon beyond Mercedes and the 2027 season, and he has identified a particularly tantalising destination: Audi’s factory Formula 1 project.

On the surface, Russell appears secure at Brackley. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has opted for a status quo for 2027, and the Briton has publicly reaffirmed his loyalty to the Silver Arrows. Yet beneath that calm exterior, the temperature is rising.

Teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli has exploded onto the scene, becoming the youngest driver ever to lead the world championship after victories in China and Japan. He heads into the break with 219 points, comfortably ahead of Lewis Hamilton on 169 and Russell on 160.

The latter was consistently overshadowed by his sensational team-mate during the first half of the season, a state of affairs that has likely weighed on his mindset and rendered his future anything but straightforward.

Steiner’s intriguing theory

Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner suggested Russell is doing more than simply focusing on the next race.

“There’s a lot of interest from drivers to go to Audi for 2028,” Steiner claimed. “For next year they are pretty set, but there is maybe a possibility in 2028 at Audi.”

©Audi

Steiner then turned up the heat.

“That's quite an interesting place because they're making good progress. It seems to be on track, what they are doing. I think there would be quite a few candidates. Carlos [Sainz] for sure,” he added.

“I think George is also looking around now, knowing that he’s now with Kimi. He doesn't want to stay with Kimi for the rest of his life, because there he knows where he is for the rest of his life. So, he is trying to find new opportunities.”

Audi: a throne of his own?

Steiner’s argument is not without intrigue. Audi completed its full takeover of Sauber ahead of the 2026 F1 seaosn and has assembled an increasingly heavyweight leadership structure, helmed by Mattia Binotto.

The German giant has been developing its own power unit since 2022 and enjoys the financial muscle of the Volkswagen Group. For a driver of Russell’s calibre, that matters.

©Audi

At Mercedes, he is battling a prodigy for supremacy while fending off speculation about Verstappen. At Audi, he could become the centerpiece of a long-term works project, the man tasked with leading a manufacturer’s charge from the ground up.

Of course, none of this means Russell is packing his bags for rival German territory tomorrow. But Steiner’s comments have added a deliciously speculative twist to the 2028 market.

The question is no longer whether Russell can stay at Mercedes. It is whether he might decide that Audi offers something even more tempting: a team he can truly call his own.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.