Steiner calls out Verstappen: ‘It’s not the rules – it’s Red Bull’

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has dismissed Max Verstappen's fierce criticism of Formula 1's 2026 regulations, suggesting the reigning champion's frustration stems from Red Bull's competitive struggles rather than genuine issues with the new racing format. Steiner points to Lewis Hamilton's contrasting, positive experience as evidence that the rules are not the problem.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's vocal disapproval of the new era, calling it "Mario Kart" and "not racing," has become a dominant storyline. Steiner's blunt counter-argument reframes the debate from one about sporting purity to one about competitive dynamics, highlighting how a driver's perception of the rules is often shaped by their immediate success or failure on track.

The details:

• Steiner, speaking to talkSPORT, directly challenged Verstappen's narrative: "It’s not the fault of the regulations. That’s the fault of the team if the car cannot start."
• He cited the race-start issues for McLaren and others as isolated team problems, not a systemic flaw with the new 50/50 power unit and energy recovery regulations.
• On Verstappen's complaints, Steiner offered a stark psychological assessment: "Max is not happy because the car is not where he likes it to be... Max always throws the toys out of the pram when it doesn’t go his way."
• He contrasted this with Lewis Hamilton's jubilant reaction to scoring his first Ferrari podium in Shanghai, where Hamilton called it "one of the most enjoyable races." Steiner's explanation was simple: "Guess why? Because he is having success, the opposite of Max."

The big picture:

The 2026 season has disrupted the established order, forcing teams and drivers to adapt to strategic energy management. Red Bull, with a brand-new power unit developed in-house, has faced reliability and deployment teething problems, costing Verstappen performance. Meanwhile, other manufacturers like Ferrari and newcomers have shown stronger early form. Steiner's comments underscore a classic F1 truth: sweeping criticisms of regulations frequently peak when a dominant team or driver loses their advantage.

What's next:

The pressure is now on Red Bull to solve its technical issues quickly. As Steiner noted, new technology takes time for engineers to master, and improvements are expected. If Red Bull can unlock its car's potential, Verstappen's tune may change. Conversely, if the struggles persist, the debate over the 2026 rules' merit will likely continue, but Steiner has firmly placed the onus for performance back on the team, not the rulebook.