Guenther Steiner believes Max Verstappen should not leave Formula 1 anytime soon, but sees a departure from Red Bull Racing as realistic, perhaps in the near future. The former Haas boss stated that the Dutch driver’s current situation is different from what he experienced previously.
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According to Steiner, Verstappen’s dissatisfaction is evident, both with the regulations and the team’s performance. Still, he does not believe the four-time champion is close to abandoning the category, emphasizing that the driver remains passionate about what he does.
“Max loves what he does, but he is not happy with the regulations or the team’s performance,” Steiner said in an interview with GPblog. The Italian also highlighted that Verstappen is not used to competing without a car capable of winning, something he considers a new situation for the driver.
In recent months, Verstappen has shown frustration and even suggested he could leave Formula 1 if nothing changed. At the same time, there are indications that the four-time champion keeps options open with other teams, with Mercedes seen as the most logical alternative, followed by Ferrari and McLaren.
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Even so, Steiner believes a change would not happen immediately: “I don’t think he will leave Formula 1. But changing teams in one or two years is very possible. I don’t believe it will be for Mercedes next year, because they seem satisfied with their drivers,” said the former Haas boss.
Steiner also emphasized that Verstappen will continue to be a coveted name on the grid. For him, if Red Bull cannot deliver what the driver expects, other teams will be ready to offer competitive conditions.
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