The new era of Formula 1 has only just begun, but it has already generated tension, fractures, and provocative statements. At the center of the stage is the usual suspect: Max Verstappen, who for months has attacked the 2026 regulations, defining them as «anti-racing», «Formula E on steroids», and, following a dismal weekend in Shanghai, even a «Mario Kart-style» system. His words sparked immediate reactions. Among the harshest is that of Guenther Steiner, who did not miss the opportunity to take a swipe at the Dutch champion.
STEINER ON THE ATTACK: “MAX IS THROWING A TANTRUM”
The former Haas team principal, now a free and sharp-tongued voice in the paddock, has questioned not the regulations themselves, but Verstappen’s attitude. For Steiner, the four-time world champion’s criticisms do not stem from a technical vision, but from a simple fact: Red Bull is no longer dominant.
Speaking with Talksport, Steiner stated:
“Max is not happy because his car is not where he would like it to be. But we have to be honest: Red Bull has produced its own powertrain for the first time, and it is such advanced technology that it takes time for the engineers to get used to it.”
He then added:
“I’m actually surprised at how well the new engine manufacturers, like Red Bull Ford and Audi, are doing. Sometimes, as you said, Max gets angry easily if things don’t go the way he wants them to.”
Steiner then broadened the discussion to the new regulations, defending their philosophy and potential:
“The racing has been pretty good. Obviously, people like Max perhaps don’t like change, and he’s not used to not being in one of the best cars, so that doesn’t help his mood in appreciating the new regulations. At the moment, all the teams are just learning how these cars work because it’s advanced technology. But the racing was good, and that’s the most important thing.”
For Steiner, in short, the problem isn’t 2026 Formula 1: it’s Verstappen failing to accept that he is no longer in command.
THE REAL CRUX: REGULATIONS OR FRUSTRATION?
Steiner’s words raise a question that divides the paddock: is Verstappen truly defending the purity of the sport, or is he reacting to the first genuinely complicated phase of his recent career?
The Shanghai weekend, which he spent fighting in the midfield before retiring due to an ERS failure, amplified his frustration. His subsequent declarations—«anti-racing», «Formula E on steroids», «Mario Kart»—did the rest. Steiner, with his trademark bluntness, has simply said what many are thinking but few are willing to voice.
The transition to the 2026 power units has reshuffled the deck, putting established stars like Verstappen in unfamiliar territory. As the championship moves forward, the focus will remain on whether these complaints are temporary growing pains or a fundamental rift between the sport’s biggest star and its future direction. For now, the “Steiner verdict” suggests that the Dutchman needs to focus more on the garage and less on the rulebook.
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