Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula 1 champion, could prove challenging to manage should Red Bull fail to match the pace of its competitors this year, warns Guenther Steiner. The former Haas Team Principal’s comment comes in the wake of Red Bull’s subpar performance during the pre-season testing in Bahrain, where rivals McLaren and Ferrari showed dominant form.
Red Bull, based in Milton Keynes, experienced a slump in the middle of the last season, after a promising start. McLaren capitalised on this downturn, making substantial progress and leaving Red Bull trailing behind. Despite the setback, Verstappen managed to clinch the Drivers’ Championship, thanks to his early-season victories that served as a cushion. However, Steiner suggests that the Dutch racing prodigy might not have the same buffer this time around.
In a candid conversation with CNN, Steiner expressed his doubts about Verstappen’s ability to adapt to a potentially disadvantaged scenario. Reflecting on Verstappen’s reaction to not winning last year, Steiner recalled, “He reacted aggressively at first, but eventually, he understood the need to adopt a smarter approach and accumulate as many points as possible, even without winning a race.”
The question now is which version of Verstappen will show up this season. “If he doesn’t have a competitive car, he could become difficult to manage,” Steiner warned, adding that Verstappen is known to vocalise his dissatisfaction.
Despite this, Steiner acknowledged Verstappen’s immense talent, hailing him as the best driver at present. He believes Verstappen will put his all into defending his title, but the journey won’t be easy, as demonstrated last season.
As Verstappen gears up to defend his title, the team faces the challenge of their first season since 2006 without the genius of Adrian Newey. Newey has moved onto Aston Martin, leaving a void in Red Bull. Verstappen, however, is looking to the future. He has expressed faith in the restructured technical team, now led by Pierre Wache, and urges the team to move past discussions of coping without Newey.
Steiner offered some advice for dealing with Verstappen’s high-spirited character, advising to remain calm and not let early-season setbacks disrupt the team’s harmony. He believes impatience and complaints won’t help the team’s cause. Instead, he stresses the need for patience and unity, especially when the team is not performing at its best.
Steiner’s advice to Verstappen and Red Bull paints a picture of a challenging season ahead, marked by fierce competition and the need for sound strategies. Will Verstappen rise to the occasion or will he falter under pressure? Only time will tell.
