Author Archives: PressBox

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner said George Russell could emerge as a candidate for Audi’s 2028 Formula 1 seat as uncertainty around his Mercedes future grew. Steiner linked the situation to Toto Wolff’s comments about Max Verstappen, which added to speculation that Mercedes could be weighing a Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli lineup. Wolff said Antonelli needed time to develop, described Verstappen as a driver at the peak of his abilities, and said he would not be scared by a superstar pairing because of his experience with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Russell has not been confirmed to leave Mercedes, and the article said he could become one of the biggest names on the 2028 driver market if Verstappen joined Antonelli at Mercedes.

Steiner said Russell’s position at Mercedes had become more complicated because Antonelli had been in strong form, with the Italian leading the championship into the summer break on 219 points, ahead of Hamilton on 169 and Russell on 160. Steiner said Russell may already be looking at new opportunities and may not want to spend the rest of his career alongside Antonelli if he cannot beat him for the world title. He also said Russell and Mercedes had both signaled continuity for 2027, and Russell reaffirmed his commitment to the team.

Audi was presented as a realistic alternative because the manufacturer is moving toward its full works Formula 1 effort, having taken over Sauber for the 2026 season. Steiner said Audi had become an attractive option as it invested heavily in the project and made solid progress with its chassis and power unit. He also said Russell would face competition from Carlos Sainz for an Audi seat, and stressed that Russell was not necessarily leaving Mercedes imminently.

Rachel Brookes said her exit from Sky Sports F1 had been planned for months before she announced it in June, and she rejected speculation that Max Verstappen played any part in her departure. Brookes, who left after 14 years with Sky, said the move was not as sudden as it appeared and that the online abuse she received after interviewing Verstappen had already been resolved before she went. She said many people assumed her departure was linked to that interview about Verstappen’s incident with George Russell at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, but she said it was not the reason she left.

Brookes said she had time to say goodbye to colleagues, teams and drivers, and described the reaction inside the Formula 1 paddock as warm and supportive. In a TikTok video, she shared pictures of walking and talking with Lewis Hamilton before the two embraced, and said she had told him about her departure. Brookes said Hamilton gave her a massive hug and hoped to see her back in the paddock soon. She also said Charles Leclerc gave her the biggest hug in Canada, and other drivers sent video messages saying they would miss her.

Brookes said the paddock felt like a family and that she was overwhelmed by the response to leaving Sky. She said she still expected to be involved in Formula 1 and hinted that her career in the sport was not over. Brookes also praised Craig Slater as the person ready to step into her role at Sky.