Guenther Steiner, former director of the Haas Formula 1 team, has expressed that Max Verstappen “absolutely” regrets the missed opportunities to join Mercedes. According to Steiner, the door for the four-time world champion from the Netherlands is now completely closed.
Verstappen has been the subject of intense debate lately due to the difficulties he has faced with his current team, Red Bull. His frustration became evident during the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, where he suffered a recurring failure with the rear wing, which made him appear affected and end up stopped in a gravel area.
The mechanical issues, similar to those he experienced at the Austrian Grand Prix, prompted a series of strong messages over the team’s radio. Meanwhile, although rumors are circulating about a potential move for Verstappen to another team, Steiner insists that the driver lost his opportunity to sign with Mercedes.
During an appearance on the podcast The Red Flags, Steiner explained: “I’m convinced he regrets it. At the time, all negotiations were with George and Mercedes. I believe his alternative would have been to be the one occupying that seat, but he wasn’t sure what would happen in the future. In the end, he let the opportunity pass”.
Steiner also addressed why he considers it is now “too late” for Verstappen to join the Brackley team. He highlighted the strong driver lineup that Mercedes already has, with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, who seem set to continue with the team until 2027, as recently confirmed by team principal Toto Wolff.
“He was convinced to stay in his position, he waited until the new regulations arrived, and now, evidently, it seems like it’s too late”, Steiner added.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
