GUENTHER STEINER PREDICTS MERCEDES 1-2 OVER MAX VERSTAPPEN AT MIAMI GP
F1 2026: Guenther Steiner explains why Max Verstappen could surprise the field in Miami following a four-week update break.
Max Verstappen will end up on the Miami Grand Prix podium with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, but he won't beat the Mercedes duo, at least not if you ask former Haas boss Guenther Steiner.
Steiner isn’t shy about his prediction: he expects a Mercedes 1-2 in Miami, with Verstappen trailing them. It’s a bold call, especially since most people see the championship shifting soon. So far, though, Mercedes completely owns the 2026 season. They've grabbed every pole, every win, and just scored back-to-back 1-2 finishes in Australia and China. They already lead Ferrari by 45 points in the Constructors’ standings, and Antonelli has a nine-point edge over Russell in the Drivers’ fight.
But Miami could flip the script.
F1’s made some changes for this race: tweaked engine regulations, less recharge allowed in qualifying, and a cap on maximum boost during races. Sure, these rules hit everyone, but people say Mercedes might feel it the most, since they've been masters at squeezing every bit from their power units.
That’s not all: every team is rolling into Miami with big car updates after a four-week break. Plenty of time at the factory to find an edge.
Even with all that, Steiner’s sticking to his guns. He thinks Mercedes will still be on top, but also expects Verstappen and Red Bull to step it up enough for Max to join the podium party.
“Mercedes will win,” Steiner told a betting site. “They look strong, and it’ll be a good fight between Kimi and George. But Max could surprise us. Miami’s a different track, and with the new engine rules, there’ll be less charging and recharging – something that could help Max get on the podium.”
Steiner also weighed in on the championship race. Antonelli leads for now, but Steiner tips Russell to turn the tables before the season ends. Russell’s got eight years of F1 experience, and Steiner sounds convinced that this is finally his moment.
“For me, it’s George,” Steiner said. “Mercedes looks really strong this year, and George has the experience. He’s put everything into getting this chance, and now he has it. I don’t think he’ll let it slip away.”
SERGIO PEREZ BREAKS SILENCE ON CADILLAC’S FIRST FOUR RACES OF 2026 F1 SEASON
Discover why Sergio Perez is confident in Cadillac’s 2026 path despite urgent needs for better pace and reliability fixes.
Sergio Perez didn’t waste time sharing his thoughts on Cadillac after the first four races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Cadillac shows up in 2026 as F1’s newest team, but honestly, not a lot of people expected fireworks right away. With veterans like Valtteri Bottas and Perez behind the wheel, the team’s start has been a mix, some moments full of promise, others derailed by reliability issues.
Still, Cadillac isn’t just stuck at the back. Lately, they’ve been right there fighting with Aston Martin and even managed to split them in Miami, which turned a few heads.
Perez knows the team is at risk of falling behind in this crazy-fast development race, though. “We still have work to do, but I’m confident we’re on the right path,” he told reporters, including Motorsport Week.
He added, “Sometimes, once tyre degradation sets in, we can hang with the midfield, but they always seem to find another gear. There’s a long way to go this season, but we’re in a rush to find more pace. We know Aston will get stronger, and we don’t want to be left behind.”
Racing Aston Martin has actually brought Perez some enjoyment. He especially likes battling Fernando Alonso, calling those fights fair and satisfying. Still, he pointed out a weak spot: “We’re having fun with them. Racing Fernando is always great because he’s so fair. But we struggled with tyre degradation; we burnt through them too quickly. We picked the hard compound, but honestly, looking back, I should’ve gone with the soft.”
He said there’s plenty to analyse, and really, the key is getting a better grip on their car as they look ahead to Canada. “We don’t have much time, but in the short term, we need to fix the degradation. We have some ideas, but putting them together is our biggest challenge in the next few weeks.”
Cadillac may be the new kid on the block and still finding its feet, but it’s already starting to make an impact. The road out of the lower ranks won’t be easy, but they’re moving in the right direction.
HOW KIMI ANTONELLI’S THREE-RACE WIN STREAK IS REDEFINING THE MERCEDES TEAM HIERARCHY
With a 43-second gap in Miami, Antonelli proves he’s ready to lead the World Championship. Can Russell bounce back in Canada?
David Coulthard, the former Formula 1 driver, recently pointed out that Kimi Antonelli might be on track to overtake George Russell as Mercedes’ team leader.
Antonelli has been on an impressive run, clinching victories in the last three races and pulling ahead by 20 points over his main competitor and teammate, Russell.
At the Miami race, the young Italian once again outperformed his more seasoned teammate, with Russell managing only fourth place, trailing by 43 seconds.
Coulthard acknowledged Antonelli’s rapid rise in 2026, which is just his second season in F1. He highlighted Antonelli’s strengths and suggested that the Italian is, in many ways, now leading the Mercedes team.
“He’s come of age,” Coulthard said during the Up To Speed podcast.
Despite being relatively new, Antonelli has shown resilience, dealing not only with the pressure from a driver like Lando ready to strike but also with technical glitches like inconsistent paddle shifts. Coulthard mentioned how Antonelli kept his cool even when his engineer, Bono, was trying to help troubleshoot the issue in a tense moment.
“I think he’s earned the right to lead the World Championship,” Coulthard added, noting that this situation probably feels uncomfortable for George. Still, the expectations now lean heavily toward Antonelli leading the team, especially based on recent results.
Coulthard also pointed out that Russell has the experience and skill to reclaim his position as the team’s lead driver, but emphasised that only one can come out on top; someone must finish first and the other second.
The rivalry between them might start opening doors for other teams. Coulthard noted that improvements from McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull were already noticeable, especially in Miami.
“Winning in the best car isn’t always straightforward. Many have tried and struggled,” he said.
For Russell, who is feeling the weight of this momentum shift, the upcoming race in Canada will be crucial if he wants to close the gap and halt Antonelli’s winning streak.
