Red Bull Content Pool
F1 News
Steiner baffled by Red Bull situation: 'Says how good Max is'
- Ewan Gale
Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes the saga over Red Bull's second seat "says how good" Max Verstappen is.
The Milton Keynes-based outfit has already made a driver switch after just two race weekends, with Liam Lawson returning to Racing Bulls and Yuki Tsunoda travelling in the other direction.
That came after Lawson crashed out of the Australian Grand Prix - albeit in treacherous conditions - before qualifying slowest of all for both the sprint and grand prix at the Shanghai International Circuit last weekend.
The Kiwi's performance level in China prompted widespread speculation over his future, with Red Bull finally confirming the change on Thursday, with Lawson following Sergio Perez, Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly in failing to match Verstappen's standards.
Speaking to the Red Flags Podcast before the news was official, Steiner said: "It mainly says how good Max is. That's what it shows, how good that boy is.
"Checo is a good driver, but he couldn't do it in the beginning either. He was okay, and then he lost his mojo next to Max. Max is just so good. Everyone collapses a bit when they compare themselves to him."
Steiner: Too much pressure for Lawson?
"Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls, when they put him in there, he did well. He delivered a respectable performance there. No problem there, but now in Red Bull it just doesn't work out. Maybe he puts too much pressure on himself. Maybe that's it. Just too much pressure.
"I would say: give Lawson time until Japan. Because now you hear: he has never raced in Australia, he has never raced in China - fine, good for him. But now let him go to Japan. He knows the circuit. There is no more excuse there, no more unknown factor. He knows Suzuka. He has driven in Super Formula, which are very fast cars. So if he doesn't show it there, it's time for a change. That would be my opinion."
Trailing Verstappen
"If you are half a second slower than your teammate, you are already much slower," explained Steiner. "But more than a second? That's a real difference. And the other guy is always in the top four. That's weird. That big difference would worry me. That he can't beat him is understandable. But the gap is a second. A whole second."
Want more Formula 1? Then follow GPblog on our various social media channels too!