Steiner adjusts expectations: 'Verstappen and Norris will not become champions!'

Guenther Steiner said before the season started in conversation with GPblog: the former team boss of Haas F1 expected Lando Norris to win his first world title in 2025. But two Grand Prix weekends later, the Italian has changed his mind.

The way Piastri defeated McLaren teammate Norris in China has impressed Steiner, as he reveals in the Red Flags podcast. Looking at the performances of both Piastri and Norris in Shanghai, the Italian even believes: "I think Oscar at the moment has got the edge.In Chine in my opinion he showed that he's got the edge. I think all the time he was better. I don't know, maybe Lando didn't like China. A little bit like me!"

Steiner predicts Piastri as champion in 2025

Why Steiner himself is not a fan of China, he leaves unanswered. However, he says he is revising his previous prediction. It's no longer Norris, but Piastri who is currently the key title contender: "If I would have to put money now on the world champion, I would put it to Oscar Piastri."

According to Steiner, Piastri exudes being mentally ready for his first world title in Formula 1. "When you saw him speaking after the pole position, [in] qualifying in the interview, he seemed to be pretty upbeat. Normally he doesn't speak a lot. You could really see he's enjoying it. I think he wants more of it, because he enjoyed that quite a bit. He is in a good position now," concludes Steiner.