- Steiner says Verstappen’s criticism comes from car issues, not the 2026 regs.
- Qualifying crash and a retirement fuel Max’s complaints about new format.
- Rival voices disagree, as F1 reviews the rules but dismisses any quick changes.
Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has delivered a blunt assessment of Max Verstappen, arguing that the Dutch driver’s sharp criticism of Formula 1’s 2026 rules reflects Red Bull’s struggles more than any flaw in the regulations themselves.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Steiner said Verstappen’s frustration stems from a car that is not performing, not from F1’s new direction.
Steiner’s remarks come after a difficult opening to the 2026 season for Verstappen and a growing divide within the paddock over the new rules. While some drivers and teams praise the racing, others, led by Verstappen, have openly questioned its quality.
A difficult start to the season for Max Verstappen
The season began with an unusual incident that set the tone for the Dutchman. In Australia, Verstappen crashed in qualifying. He started far back and fought to finish sixth. One week later in China, his race ended early due to an energy recovery system failure.
After two races, he has scored just eight points. It marks his worst start since 2018.
Off the track, his mood shifted just as sharply. Verstappen targeted the new 2026 regulations, especially the power unit system that splits output evenly between the engine and electric power.
His criticism grew stronger with each appearance. In Bahrain testing, he called the cars “Formula E on steroids.” By China, he went further. He said the racing felt artificial and compared it to a video game.
“It’s terrible,” he said. “It’s like playing Mario Kart.”
He pointed to how drivers trade places repeatedly due to boost modes. One driver passes, then loses power, then gets passed again. Verstappen called it a “joke.”
At a press conference in China, he leaned into the comparison. He joked that he had replaced simulator training with a Nintendo Switch. He spoke about game items like mushrooms and blue shells. Parts of those comments were not shown live and appeared later.
Despite his results, Verstappen said his criticism was not about losing. He insisted he would say the same if he were winning. He added that many drivers agree with him, even if some stay quiet.
Steiner fires back: it’s a Red Bull problem, not an F1 problem
Steiner did not accept that view. He placed the blame firmly on Red Bull.
“It’s not the fault of the regulations,” he said. “That’s the fault of the team if the car cannot start.”
He pointed out that most cars finished races without issue. Mechanical failures, he argued, have nothing to do with rule changes.
“It’s like the two McLarens not starting, that has not happened for a long time, that two cars cannot even start a race. You cannot blame the regulations because most of the other cars started the race, except for [Gabriel] Bortoleto and [Alex] Albon. Max is not happy because the car is not where he likes it to be,” the Italian noted.
Steiner also highlighted Red Bull’s new challenge. The team now builds its own power unit with Ford. It is new territory and takes time to master.
He said other new engine projects, like those involving Audi, have shown promise. He expects Red Bull to improve as engineers learn.
Then came his sharpest line. “Max always throws the toys out of the pram when it doesn’t go his way.”
Steiner suggested Verstappen is not used to struggling. That shift, he said, affects how the driver views the new rules.
“Obviously, people like Max maybe don’t like change, and he’s not used to not being in one of the best cars, so that doesn’t help his mood to like the new regulations,” he said.
A wider debate dividing the paddock
The debate has spread across the paddock. Former race winner Juan Pablo Montoya criticised the tone of recent comments.
“It’s fine for people to have an opinion,” Montoya said via Motorsport Week. “I’m not saying they have to like it, but mocking Formula 1 and comparing it to Mario Kart, that shouldn’t be accepted by Formula 1.”
Jonathan Wheatley, who worked with Verstappen at Red Bull, also pointed to the car’s performance as a key factor behind the frustration.
On the other side, Lewis Hamilton offered a very different view. After a strong result in China, he described the racing as the best he has experienced in Formula 1.
Steiner agreed with that positive take. He said the racing has been good and will improve as teams learn the new systems.
“The racing was pretty good,” he said. “I think they are actually pretty good. They will develop over time. All the teams are just learning at the moment what is going on, because it’s an advanced technology. But the racing was good, and that’s the most important thing.”
Can Red Bull and Max Verstappen turn it around?
There is still time for a recovery. Verstappen has done it before.
In 2025, Red Bull started behind McLaren. At one stage, Verstappen trailed by more than 100 points. He still closed the gap and finished just two points short of the title.
That history offers some hope.
Meanwhile, Formula 1 and the FIA continue to review feedback. Small changes may come, but a full overhaul is not possible. The engine concept will stay.
The only short-term option would be to reduce battery influence. That would slow the cars and change racing again.
No changes will happen before the Japanese Grand Prix. Officials plan to study the data during the April break after the cancellation of races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
For now, Steiner’s message stands. Fix the car. Adapt to the rules. Move forward.
