Steiner: Max won't repeat Fernando Alonso's mistakes

      In yesterday’s piece about the main expectations for the upcoming season, there was a separate discussion of likely personnel changes to come and, above all, the future of Max Verstappen.

      The four-time world champion could invoke a special clause in his contract with Red Bull if results in 2026 fall below a certain level, and begin talks with other teams.

      Of course, these are purely theoretical musings, but on the eve of a new championship, when Formula 1 is switching to next-generation machinery, you can make any assumptions, since there is currently no information at all about the balance of power.

      It is also unknown how the power units being developed by Red Bull Powertrains, the Milton Keynes team’s engine division, together with Ford, will perform. And if anything goes wrong, it is quite possible that its rivals will once again start making Verstappen offers, each more tempting than the last.

      In particular, this topic was raised by Günther Steiner, the former Haas team principal, while taking part in the Red Flags podcast.

      “If Verstappen’s contract still allows for a termination, and any of the big teams wants to get him, it will happen,” Steiner believes. “Surely he already has that planned. He will not act the way Fernando Alonso usually does.

      Fernando is a talented driver and also competes in a league of his own, but he always ends up behind the wheel of a poor car. He is very good at choosing the worst cars. Max will not make that mistake; his father Jos and manager Raymond Vermeulen will ensure that Max has the best car possible. Because the people around this driver must be confident in him; they should have no reason to worry.”

      Of course, Steiner somewhat exaggerates, since Alonso at one time made the absolutely correct decision when he moved to McLaren in 2007 or when he signed a contract with Ferrari, for whom he raced starting in 2010. And it is another matter that in neither case did he manage to win the title, although he finished as world runner-up three times.

      But Steiner is right about one thing: in 2026 much will depend on results, on the balance of power, and one should not rule out a scenario in which Lawrence Stroll might offer Max Verstappen to once again join forces with Adrian Newey. Whether he accepts that offer or refuses — the odds are 50/50.