Verstappen's camp hits back at Steiner over jibe
Gunther Steiner says Max Verstappen only dislikes the 2026 rules because he isn't winning. Jos Verstappen and Dani Juncadella were quick to set the former Haas boss straight.
Max Verstappen's allies have turned on former Haas boss Gunther Steiner after he suggested the Dutchman's criticism of Formula 1's 2026 regulations is motivated by a lack of victories.
"If Verstappen had won, he would be really happy and these would be the best regulations ever," Steiner said in a quote published on an article posted on X.
The remark prompted a sharp response from Verstappen's father, Jos.
"Hi Gunther," he replied on the social media network.
"I understand why you're not a F1 team boss anymore. The way you talk."
Verstappen's GT3 teammate Dani Juncadella also joined the criticism.
"Guy (Verstappen) has warned everyone about the new regs since 2023 but the head of the consortium that acquired the Tech 3 MotoGP team knows better?" he wrote.
The exchange comes amid an increasingly heated debate about Formula 1's heavily electrified regulations, with Verstappen repeatedly warning he could even walk away from the sport if planned changes for 2027 are not approved.
Ralf wades in
Not everyone agrees with the four-time world champion, however.
Former driver Ralf Schumacher says Verstappen needs to stop sending mixed messages about his future.
"Today he says, 'No, I'll be driving for Red Bull in 2027, that's fine,' and tomorrow he says, 'If this continues, I don't want to do this anymore,'" Schumacher told Sky Deutschland.
"Gradually, the time comes when he needs to make a clear choice so that the whole team can focus on the future again."
Schumacher also noted that Red Bull's overall performance in Montreal may have weakened some of Verstappen's complaints about the RB22.
"Red Bull really took a step forward in Montreal," he said. "Hadjar was very strong this weekend. That's also notable, by the way."
"Verstappen was complaining about the car, and Hadjar was almost faster than him. It doesn't necessarily mean anything, but it's still notable."
Max Verstappen, Formula 1
| World championships | 4 (2021–2024) |
|---|---|
| F1 debut | 2015, Toro Rosso |
| Current team | Red Bull Racing (since 2016) |
| Born | 30 September 1997, Hasselt, Belgium |
See also: Max Verstappen stats & profile on F1-Fansite.
One F1 fan comment on “Verstappen's camp hits back at Steiner over jibe”
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The problem with being honest in any workplace is that one becomes a lightning-rod.
Opinions are like rectums, everyone has one. So these pundits that are throwing rotten vegetables at Max are basically re-directing the spot-light onto their irrational, distorted view of the world.
Many of them have a history of concussions.
Sooner or later, people will dismiss them for the attention-seeking, virtue-signaling, tofu-eating narcissists that they are.