Gunther Steiner pointed out how Red Bull is the ‘weakest link’ in the fight for the Formula 1 season title among the front-running teams.
Read more F1: Presenter explains departure from Sky Sports and reveals support from Hamilton
The Milton Keynes team has faced a difficult period in this first half of the 2026 season, without securing any wins and with Max Verstappen only in sixth place in the Drivers’ World Championship – so far, there have been only four podiums in 11 rounds.
Therefore, for the former Haas F1 boss, Red Bull is not coming strong, but McLaren, which won the Hungarian GP with Lando Norris, will become a constant threat among the front teams.
“They are back in the fight, and it’s for real. They are really back in the fight with Ferrari and Mercedes,” he said on the Red Flags podcast.
Read more F1: Sepang clarifies Malaysia GP schedule after app confusion
“I think Red Bull is now the weakest link there. Red Bull is capable, I don’t think they can win at the moment, but there is the ‘Max at Red Bull’ factor… call it what you want, because he always pulls something out of the hat. He himself was surprised to have finished second [in Hungary]. He didn’t know how he managed it. But we know how he does it: if an opportunity arises, he takes it,” he continued.
“I think McLaren has become a contender for victory again. But this year, the scenario changes a lot. On Friday, everyone thought Ferrari would win easily, but it was just Friday. We keep forgetting that it’s just a damn Friday,” he concluded.
Read more Norris asks McLaren for patience to return to the fight in Formula 1
