Steiner advises Verstappen: 'Mercedes are a safe choice'
F1 News
- Tygo Bekkema
There was another cause for conflict at Red Bull Racing. Christian Horner and Jos Verstappen are at odds with each other after wrangling over a demo run for Verstappen Sr. Horner allegedly stopped Verstappen from driving the RB8 during the race weekend in Austria. Despite the fact that things now seem unsettled at Red Bull Racing, former Formula 1 team principal, Günther Steiner, believes that things will work out within the team.
Speaking to Motorsport.com, the eccentric Italo-American stated that a strained relationship with a driver's father is part and parcel of being a team principal from time to time. Steiner also had to deal with that regularly during his time at Haas, at the time with Nikita Mazepin's father. "I think every team principal has to deal with it from time to time," he said.
Steiner therefore does not foresee any major problems for the Austrian racing stable. "I don't know what's going on and don't want to have anything to do with it, but I think both parties have a desire to solve the problems between them, so that the focus can be on moving forward. Sometimes it just doesn't work either. Then you have to agree to disagree and move on. They are smart people. Sometimes you clash, that's normal."
Steiner advises Verstappen on future
Finally, the man who mainly works as a TV analyst these days briefly discusses Verstappen's future. "I'm pretty sure Max will stay at Red Bull next year," Steiner says. But he is less outspoken regarding 2026. "I have no idea, nobody knows who will have the best car then."
Nevertheless, Steiner advises Verstappen to look elsewhere for his heel in 2026, in view of the new regulations. "I think it would be a safe choice," the former team principal said of a possible switch to Mercedes. "My gut tells me that Ferrari and Mercedes will be strong on the engine front in 2026, but you never know. Maybe we will get a surprise."