Steiner Predicts Norris Finishes Second Behind Antonelli in 2026

The tarmac at Madring still hums with the vibration of a pole lap that defied expectation. Lando Norris gripped the steering wheel, his mind racing through the telemetry of a run where every kerb strike was calculated, every brake point a metronome of intent. It was a performance of surgical precision, one that his team principal Andrea Stella described as perhaps the finest of his career. The car had not just driven; it had danced.

Yet, the checkered flag never came. A virtual safety car, inserted with cruel timing, stripped away the opportunity for a strategic undercut that would have sealed the victory. Norris crossed the line third, behind Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen, but the trajectory of his season has shifted. Guenther Steiner, the former Haas team principal, now asserts that this surge in form will propel Norris to the second spot in the final standings, a position he believes is within reach if the British driver maintains this level of consistency.

A Surge in Precision

Norris currently sits fourth in the Drivers’ Championship with 186 points, a position that belies the momentum building behind him. His recent performances, including victories in Hungary and the Netherlands, have injected a new vitality into his campaign. Steiner watched this evolution closely on The Red Flags podcast, noting the visible joy in Norris’s demeanor. "He will be second if he continues like this. Look how happy the Lando boy is," Steiner said, pointing to a driver who has found a rhythm that feels less like work and more like flow.

Telemetry Tells the Truth

The data from the Spanish Grand Prix supports this optimism. Andrea Stella highlighted the unique level of control Norris exercised, citing the precision of his braking and the speed carried into corners. "Everything was executed with a pretty unique level of precision," Stella noted. For Norris, the lap was a moment of alignment, a rare instance where his intent and the car’s response became one. "My brain let me do it almost perfect," he admitted, reflecting on a performance that he himself rates among the best of his professional life.

Chasing the Leader

The gap to the leader remains significant. Kimi Antonelli leads the standings with 292 points, holding a 106-point advantage over Norris. Behind them, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton occupy the remaining top spots, creating a dense midfield battle for the remaining positions. Steiner’s prediction hinges on Norris closing this distance while the others falter. As McLaren prepares to introduce a major upgrade, including a new iteration of its rear wing, the team aims to replicate the precision seen in Madrid. The next stop in Azerbaijan will be the first true test of whether this surge is a fleeting moment or the start of a sustained charge up the leaderboard, a race defined not just by speed, but by the relentless pursuit of perfection in every sector.