Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner has given strong support to Mercedes ahead of this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring. Steiner argued that the Brackley-based team, despite the threat from Ferrari, will put their Barcelona-Catalunya GP defeat behind them and return with full force in Austria.
Steiner: "Mercedes was preparing on the bench."“
Speaking to The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner emphasized that Mercedes wasn't reacting to Ferrari's updates by simply preparing for them, but rather constantly working behind the scenes. "Mercedes wasn't waiting for someone to bring an update," Steiner said, continuing: "They keep working and nobody waits for them to improve. As soon as someone gets better, they have something they can use on their bench. I think Mercedes is ready with some updates as well."“
Steiner answered the question of who he sees as the 'rockstar' of the weekend with a single word: ‘Mercedes. They will return with all their weapons, without any pauses or breakdowns on the track. After Barcelona, everyone will return to reality and Mercedes will regain its old good form.’
First defeat of the season and the championship standings.
The Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix was the first race of the 2026 season in which Mercedes failed to win. George Russell had won the season opener, the Australian Grand Prix, while his young teammate Kimi Antonelli had achieved five consecutive victories in China, Japan, Miami, Canada, and Monaco. Ferrari's victory in Barcelona put the first brake on this dominant run.
In the producers' championship, Mercedes continues to lead with 262 points; Ferrari is second with 190 points, and McLaren is third with 141 points. In the drivers' championship, Antonelli has a 41-point lead over Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari. Russell is third, 9 points behind Hamilton, while Charles Leclerc is fourth, 31 points behind Hamilton.