As the Formula 1 season barrels toward the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, speculation about Max Verstappen’s future continues to dominate headlines.
Mercedes find themselves at a crossroads, with both Antonelli and Russell out of contract at the end of 2025. Rumours linking Verstappen to the Silver Arrows have intensified, fueled by confirmed talks between Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, Verstappen, and his manager, Raymond Vermeulen.
A post on X from @MercedesF1_Hub in early July, noted that Mercedes were in “concrete negotiations” with Verstappen as he considers freeing himself from his Red Bull contract, which runs until 2028.
Many expect that if Verstappen joins Mercedes, he would pair with Antonelli, their highly touted 18-year-old rookie.
However, Steiner, speaking on the Red Flags podcast, argued against this, praising Russell’s leadership since Lewis Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari in 2025. “How could they replace George with Max and leave Kimi Antonelli there if Mercedes want to win a world championship?” Steiner said.
“George won a race in Canada, so he’s obviously a good leader.”
Steiner expressed doubts about Antonelli’s readiness, pointing to his inconsistent debut season. “Kimi did one good race in Canada,” he said. “The rest, how many good races did he have? Not many.”
He proposed loaning Antonelli to a midfield team like Alpine or Williams to gain experience, allowing Mercedes to field a proven pairing in Verstappen and Russell.
“Kimi’s a good driver, but he needs to get experience,” Steiner added. “Being thrown in at that age, in a car which could win races, and you don’t win, it’s not good for your build-up.”
The idea of Verstappen at Mercedes has gained traction, especially after Red Bull’s shock decision to part ways with team principal Christian Horner, as reported on July 9.
Steiner also raised questions about the risks of Verstappen’s potential move, asking, “How does he know that Mercedes next year will be good?” With the 2026 regulation changes looming, teams face pivotal decisions that could reshape the grid.
As Formula 1 heads to the iconic 7.004-kilometer Spa-Francorchamps Circuit for the Belgian Grand Prix on July 27, all eyes remain on Mercedes’ next move.
Will they pursue Verstappen, retain Russell, or nurture Antonelli? The answers could define their championship hopes.
