There is a fine, almost blurred line between technical analysis and dominant narrative. At the moment, Max Verstappen finds himself precisely on that undefined edge, exposed to a form of media “targeting” that risks oversimplifying a much more complex picture. Reductionism is always a problem.
The four-time world champion is experiencing a phase far from exciting. The new Red Bull RB22 did not start under the best auspices: the car has shown evident limitations, amplified by a power unit developed in collaboration with Ford, which, at least in this early phase, is not standing out either for performance or reliability. This fragile technical context inevitably affects results and, above all, the driver’s mood.
Steiner criticizes Max Verstappen
Into this scenario come the words of Guenther Steiner, offering a direct, almost brutal perspective: “Verstappen is throwing tantrums because he’s not used to not being at the wheel of one of the best cars on the grid, and that doesn’t help his mood to be less critical of the new rules,” said the former Haas team principal on the TalkSport podcast. “If a car doesn’t start, and, for example, in China neither of the two McLarens started—which hadn’t happened in a long time—you can’t blame the regulations, because most of the other cars did start.”
This interpretation fits perfectly with the current popular view: Max Verstappen is critical simply because he is not competitive. A conditioned reflex in which judgment of the 2026 rules is directly proportional to the quality of the car at his disposal.
Steiner goes further, adding a character dimension: “Max isn’t happy because his car isn’t where he wants it to be, and he’s someone who gets angry quickly if things don’t go his way,” Steiner added, “but we need to be intellectually honest and recognize that Red Bull is already surprising with the power unit, as is Audi. The races have been quite fun, and that’s the most important thing.”
Beyond the simplified narrative
These words capture part of the reality but do not exhaust it. The truth is: there is no control experiment. We do not know whether a Max Verstappen behind the wheel of a dominant RB22 would be equally critical of this technical generation. It’s a variable impossible to isolate. However, one element escapes this linear narrative: the Dutchman had expressed concerns about the 2026 rules well before taking to the track.
Verstappen’s criticism of F1 is above suspicion
The issue is not just about performance. It’s conceptual. Verstappen has repeatedly highlighted how the emphasis on energy management—particularly on the electric front—is transforming the driver’s craft. Less attack, more administration. Less instinct, more calculation. A Formula 1 that risks, in his view, drifting away from the paradigm of the ultimate driving expression.
Reducing everything to an emotional reaction tied to results ignores this aspect. And this is where the “targeting” becomes a dangerous oversimplification. Because beyond interpretations, one objective fact remains: Max Verstappen is not an ordinary driver. He is a technical reference, one of those who perceive the nuances of regulations before others. When a profile of this level raises structural doubts, dismissing them as mere frustration risks being shortsighted.
Signs of change already emerging
It is no coincidence that changes are underway. Formula 1 stakeholders have noticed the signals from the first races and are already evaluating targeted fixes, especially concerning the balance between internal combustion and electric components, to prevent management from prevailing over pure performance.
This is a delicate phase. On one hand, Steiner rightly emphasizes the need not to blame every problem on the rules. On the other hand, it is evident that certain issues exist and have been highlighted precisely by someone like Verstappen, who experiences the limits of the track firsthand.
The question is not whether Verstappen is right or wrong. The real issue is recognizing that his perspective deserves a deeper analysis than the current narrative provides. And perhaps, at this moment, the problem is not so much Verstappen complaining—it’s how people are listening to him.
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