Steiner insists Wolff is too smart to replace Russell with Verstappen at Mercedes

Guenther Steiner has poured cold water on rumours connecting Max Verstappen to Mercedes, insisting that team principal Toto Wolff would never jeopardise Kimi Antonelli’s development by bringing in the reigning world champion as a rival.

Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, the former Haas team principal was asked whether Verstappen could replace George Russell at Mercedes. Steiner was unequivocal. “I don’t think that will happen. Max will not replace George. Why would Toto bring in Max now when he has got the biggest future talent in his place?” he said, referring to Antonelli, who currently leads the 2026 drivers’ championship.

“I think Max is the best at the moment, but at some stage, somebody will be better, and for sure, Kimi at some stage will be better than him. But why would he bring in now somebody like Max, and then he gets a competition and they may both lose. That is not what Toto will do. Toto is too smart to do that.”

The comments come against the backdrop of a dominant Mercedes start to the 2026 season. Russell claimed victory at the Australian Grand Prix and the Chinese sprint race, while Antonelli has added five consecutive grand prix wins — a run that has underlined just how highly the Italian teenager is regarded inside the Brackley operation.

Wolff himself addressed the speculation in an interview in March, making his position plain. “The amazing thing is that these stupid rumours are already coming up in March,” he said. “We have two drivers with whom we have long-term, multi-year contracts. I couldn’t be happier with the two of them. Both deliver top performances, so there is no reason at all to even think about a line-up change, about other drivers. I say that with the greatest respect to Max.”

Steiner’s analysis reflects a broader strategic logic: with Antonelli already delivering results and carrying enormous long-term potential, introducing Verstappen would create an internal power struggle that could destabilise the team rather than strengthen it. For now, at least, the Verstappen-to-Mercedes narrative appears to have little traction inside the paddock.