Steiner says Verstappen's rules stance is political

Guenther Steiner says Max Verstappen’s criticism of Formula 1’s 2026 regulations is being shaped as much by Red Bull’s political interests and on-track results as by the rules themselves, joking that a win in Canada would have turned the Dutchman into their biggest supporter.

Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner said Verstappen’s mood after Montreal underlined that point. “Verstappen was a little bit happier because he was on the podium. I guess if he would have won, he would be really happy, and it would be the best regs ever. That's just to clarify where we stand there emotionally with Max on the regs.”

The remark came after Verstappen finished third at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, his first podium of the season. Despite the stronger result, he still maintained his objections to the 2026 package and continued to raise the prospect of leaving Formula 1 if the situation does not improve.

Steiner argued that Verstappen’s public line after the race was part of a broader attempt to influence the next engine rules. He said Verstappen effectively had to go out and say: “I still don't really like them. Even if I like them a little bit, but I still want to change the regs.” Steiner’s view was that this was “how his politics are playing to change the engine regs,” because Red Bull believes rivals could gain an opportunity to catch up if “ADUO comes in.”

He framed the wider paddock fight as a competitive one rather than a purely philosophical argument over the sport’s direction. Steiner pointed to discussion around a possible 60/40 split between the internal-combustion engine and battery for 2027, rather than the currently planned 50/50 balance, as part of that battle over where the power-unit rules should go next.

For Steiner, that is what gives Verstappen’s criticism real significance. The debate is not only about whether the 2026 regulations are good or bad in theory, but about which version of the next rules cycle best protects Red Bull’s position and keeps its lead driver satisfied. As Steiner put it, revised or new regulations would give everyone a fresh chance, “even more advantage and to make Max happier,” before concluding: “It's all about making Max happy in Formula 1.”