Latest news with #TheRedFlagsPodcast
Newsweek
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
F1 Insider Says Mercedes Must Extend Russell's Contract to Win Championship
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Former Haas Formula One team principal Guenther Steiner has asked Mercedes to extend George Russell's contract if it wants to win a championship in the future. Steiner believes Russell is the perfect driver for Mercedes to lead the team and help secure its next title. Russell's Mercedes contract expires at the end of 2025, and an extension has yet to arrive. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed his interest in Max Verstappen in June, but given the four-time world champion's loyalty to Red Bull, a move to Mercedes for the 2026 campaign has been ruled out. Wolff then revealed that Mercedes would head in the direction of finalizing Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli as its driver lineup for the 2026 season. However, the contract is yet to be signed, despite just 10 rounds remaining in the 2025 season. Russell has pledged his loyalty to Mercedes and admitted that the delay in his contract extension did make him tense. Overcoming a period of stress, the Briton eventually chose to focus on his performance, believing that an extension would arrive if he gave his best. Third placed George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team celebrates on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 03, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. Third placed George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team celebrates on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 03, 2025 in Budapest, a lead driver for Mercedes, Russell is placed fourth in the Drivers' Standings with 172 points, 15 points adrift of Verstappen in third. Russell secured his maiden 2025 victory in Canada and has finished six times on the podium. Given Russell's strong performances, Steiner believes he deserves a multi-year contract extension with Mercedes. Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, he said: "He deserves that. He's doing a good job, he's leading the team, he knows everything, he knows what Ferrari did [in Hungary], he knows what the engineer should be doing. "I think he should have a contract for life, in my opinion, and they cannot get out of it. No, without joking, I think he should get an extension. He's doing a good job." Steiner also suggested that Russell is the driver who could help Mercedes win another championship, something that Kimi Antonelli won't be able to do on his own. He added: "And if they want to win a world championship at the moment, they need George there, because Kimi is not delivering as they anticipated. I think obviously Kimi's in the first year, I can see that. "But in the moment, if they want to win a world championship with Kimi and even Max Verstappen, you're not going to win it. You need two good drivers, and George is a good driver, doing a good job."
Newsweek
a day ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Lewis Hamilton Under Fire For Calling Himself 'Useless' As Guenther Steiner Speaks Out
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Former Haas Formula One team principal Guenther Steiner has called out Lewis Hamilton for calling himself "useless" after the Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session. Hamilton was knocked out of Q2, which prompted him to speak in a dejected state. The race weekend at the Hungaroring was an event for Ferrari to forget after Hamilton secured the 12th position in qualifying. Unfortunately, he didn't recover places during the race, eventually finishing in P12. His teammate Charles Leclerc secured a remarkable pole position by outperforming the dominant McLarens, but a suspected chassis problem on his SF-25 F1 car mid-race led him to finish in P4. What made headlines, though, was Hamilton's statement after qualifying. Speaking to the media, the seven-time world champion said: "It's just me every time. I'm useless, absolutely useless. Team has no problem, you've seen the car's on pole. Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Ferrari walks in the paddock during the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 3, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Ferrari walks in the paddock during the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 3, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary."They probably need to change driver." Steiner, who is known for his candid opinions, said he didn't like Hamilton's "attitude of giving up." He said on The Red Flags Podcast: "How can you come out as being seven-time World Champion saying, I'm useless? That was, it's not his performance. I do not care about that. I'm not going into his performance. He's struggling. At some stage in our life, we all struggle a little bit. "I still struggle, so I always struggle, but coming out and saying, 'oh, I'm useless'. That's the wrong attitude. And that is for me. I don't like the attitude of giving up, you know, or it's an attitude that people should feel sorry for you." He added: "For me, it's like if I'm seven times World Champion, I've got enough confidence that I know that I'm not useless. I just need to work harder and going back to get my mojo back. It's one of these things. "A few weeks ago, [Hamilton was] sitting down the engineers telling them what to do and now you're coming back and saying, 'I'm useless'. "It's just focus on what you're good at, which is driving a race car, because he's good. He's a seven-time World Champion. "That's the wrong attitude. Just feeling sorry for yourself." Considering Hamilton's racing prowess, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali backed him for an eighth championship title with Ferrari following the setback faced in Hungary. He said: "Lewis is a jewel, an incredible athlete. So no matter if it is a difficult moment, he will react, and I am pretty sure he will show the reason why he is here. "He wants to achieve his 8th title, and he will triumph again. So stay with Lewis and he will do a great race, and be very, very strong after the summer season."
