F1 News
Steiner supports Verstappen: 'Nobody denies Max drives aggressively'
- Jeroen Immink
Max Verstappen has caused the entire Formula 1 world to talk about him for the umpteenth time in his career. From team bosses to drivers, everyone had an opinion ready about the crash between the Dutchman and Lando Norris at the Red Bull Ring. Despite Verstappen getting a 10-second penalty and a lot of negativity in the media too, generally drivers were understanding of the world champion's aggressive driving style. Former Haas team boss Guenther Steiner can also appreciate Verstappen's actions.
In the Jack and Guenther section of the Ziggo Sport Race Café, Jack Plooij and Steiner look back at the incident between Verstappen and Norris. "I'm not a judge so I won't say whether it was right or wrong, but this is racing," Steiner reveals. "Who was at fault? No one will deny that Max drives aggressively. In a race, you have to force your own space. What Max already did well in 2020 and 2021 is drive aggressively. He invented moving during braking. And why is he so good? Because he manages to do that without being punished," the Italian said.
Verstappen was then compared by Steiner to two-time world champion Fernando Alonso. "He (Alonso) is just like that. You don't want to anger him. It's the same with Max. What Lando has to learn is that you have to make your point. Now he paid the highest price with a DNF. That could just as easily have happened to Max. If you keep fighting, Max will automatically get a penalty and he will be put back in his place."
This article was written in collaboration with Sophia Crothall.