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Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner believes George Russell is already exploring options beyond Mercedes, suggesting the British driver might be considering a potential move to Audi for the 2028 season.
Despite holding a seat at Mercedes, Russell's future with the Brackley-based team has become a topic of debate following the impressive performances of his teenage teammate, Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
The Italian became the youngest driver to lead the drivers' championship after consecutive victories in China and Japan and has continued to develop since. Before the summer break, Antonelli leads the standings with 219 points, followed by Lewis Hamilton with 169 points and Russell with 160 points.
During an appearance on "The Red Flags" podcast, Steiner suggested that the internal dynamics at Mercedes are already pushing Russell to consider his future options. In addition to his battle with Antonelli, Russell may also feel pressure from growing speculation linking four-time champion Max Verstappen to Mercedes.
While Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has confirmed he would like to retain his current driver lineup for 2027, and Russell has also reaffirmed his commitment to the team, Steiner argues that Russell might be looking towards Audi for 2028.
"There's a lot of interest from some drivers to go to Audi for 2028," the Italian stated. "Mercedes is almost set for next year, but perhaps there's an opportunity at Audi in 2028. It's quite an interesting place because the team is making good progress. It seems what they are doing is on the right track. I think there will be quite a few candidates. Carlos Sainz for sure. I think George is also looking around, knowing he's with Kimi now. He doesn't want to stay with Kimi for the rest of his life, because he knows where he'll be for the rest of his life there. So he's trying to find new opportunities."
Audi completed its full acquisition of Sauber at the start of the 2026 season, securing Mattia Binotto and former Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley in leadership roles. The company has been developing its power unit since 2022. Audi enjoys the backing of automotive giant Volkswagen Group, which is investing heavily in the team, providing the resources and technical know-how needed to build a championship-winning operation from scratch.
Of course, none of this means Russell will leave Brackley for rival German territory, but a factory seat at Audi in 2028 would at least give Russell a project he could own, rather than a throne he is currently fighting to defend.
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