Max Verstappen warned against shock…. read more
Guenther Steiner, the former Haas F1 team principal, has warned Max Verstappen against leaving Red Bull at the end of this season, especially given the uncertainty surrounding the new power unit regulations coming into play. Verstappen, who is currently contracted with Red Bull until the end of the 2028 F1 season, has been linked to a possible early exit amid speculation about his dissatisfaction with the team’s recent driver changes, particularly swapping Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda.
Despite these rumors, Verstappen has publicly stated that he remains happy with Red Bull during the Chinese Grand Prix. However, Steiner suggests that Verstappen should consider waiting until after the 2025 season to make any major decisions about his future, as the landscape of F1 may look very different under the new power unit regulations set to take effect.
Steiner explained that leaving Red Bull too early might be a risky move because, by the end of 2025, the real performance of teams under the new regulations will still be unclear. He believes Verstappen should aim to assess the situation in 2026, when the new power units have been established, and see which teams have the strongest performance. By that time, the competitive picture may be clearer, allowing Verstappen to make a more informed decision about his future. Steiner warned that jumping ship too soon could lead to a situation where Verstappen might end up with a team that does not have the performance to compete at the top level, which could be a costly mistake.
If Verstappen does decide to leave Red Bull in the future, Steiner speculated that the driver would likely explore options with Mercedes or Aston Martin, as both teams have been mentioned as potential future suitors. Mercedes, in particular, is seen as a strong candidate given the team’s history of success and its ability to attract top drivers. Steiner was doubtful about other options such as Ferrari or McLaren, emphasizing that they might not be realistic choices for Verstappen.
While Steiner acknowledged that Aston Martin could also be a potential option, especially with the team benefiting from Adrian Newey’s help in developing the 2026 car, he was less optimistic about other teams like Ferrari and McLaren. According to Steiner, McLaren is an unlikely destination for Verstappen, and Ferrari doesn’t seem to be a good fit either.
Steiner also pointed out that no one really knows how the new regulations will impact the performance of the teams, making it a risky move for Verstappen to make any sudden decisions. In the end, Steiner believes that Verstappen’s team of negotiators will likely help him make the right move when the time comes, but he stresses the importance of waiting until the 2026 season to fully assess the best options for his futu
re in F1.
