Mercedes urged to take radical Kimi Antonelli loan strategy

Former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner has urged Mercedes to send Kimi Antonelli out on loan to allow Max Verstappen to partner George Russell. 

Both Antonelli and Russell remain without a contract for next season, whilst speculation has intensified linking Verstappen to the Brackley-based outfit. 

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has confirmed that conversations with the four-time F1 champion have taken place, as has Verstappen's manager, Raymond Vermeulen. 

The general expectation is that, should Verstappen leave Red Bull to join the Silver Arrows, it would be to partner Antonelli next year. 

However, Steiner does not understand why Russell should be axed, highlighting how he has led the team since the exit of Lewis Hamilton. 

Steiner has also not been hugely impressed by Antonelli in his debut campaign, and has suggested that a loan to a midfield team could improve his experience whilst allowing Mercedes to win titles.

"How could they replace George with Max and leave Kimi Antonelli there if Mercedes wants to win a world championship?" Steiner questioned on the Red Flags podcast. "Kimi did one good race in Canada. 

"The rest, how many good races did he have? Not many. So you take George out, who is doing a good job, like him or not, he's doing a good job. He won a race [in Canada], so he's obviously a good leader there. 

"I think they [Mercedes] would need to take Kimi out to put Max in. I would understand that one at the moment say, 'Hey, Kimi, let's do a year at Alpine, or Williams', wherever, build it up."

"He's a good driver, but he needs to get experience. Being thrown in at that age, in a car which could win races, and you don't win, it is not good for your build-up, so that's difficult.

"Max, if he goes to Mercedes next year, how does he know that the Mercedes next year will be good?"