Steiner Dismisses Verstappen-to-McLaren Rumors as 'Bull****'

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has firmly rejected mounting speculation that four-time world champion Max Verstappen could make a shock switch to McLaren, labeling the rumors baseless. With Verstappen languishing seventh in the 2026 drivers' standings and growing increasingly frustrated with Red Bull's declining performance, Steiner argues that a move to McLaren would be a sideways step rather than a genuine solution to the Dutchman's current predicament.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's long-term future has become the defining saga of the 2026 season as Red Bull has fallen from championship contention. As a four-time champion now sitting 103 points adrift of unexpected championship leader Kimi Antonelli, his potential availability has sent shockwaves through the paddock. However, Steiner's sobering analysis cuts through the hype, revealing that there may be nowhere on the current grid that offers Verstappen a meaningful competitive upgrade, effectively trapping one of the sport's biggest stars in an uncomfortable holding pattern.

The details:

• Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner did not mince words when addressing the McLaren speculation. "They're bull****," he stated plainly, arguing that Zak Brown's repeated public support for his current drivers makes any sudden change implausible and would undermine the McLaren CEO's credibility.
• From a competitive standpoint, Steiner sees little logic in the move. "McLaren is struggling more than Red Bull," he observed, adding that switching to Woking would amount to nothing more than a lateral move with no clear path forward. "Why would he move to McLaren? It's not a move forward."
• Steiner believes Mercedes and Ferrari remain the only destinations worthy of Verstappen's stature, but both squads are locked into driver lineups they have no intention of breaking. "They don't have a car for him unless the FIA and FOM let them run a third car," he said, underscoring the lack of viable alternatives.
• The statistics paint a grim picture for Verstappen's current campaign. Heading into the Belgian Grand Prix, the 10th round of the 2026 season, he holds just 76 points and sits seventh in the standings, a position almost unthinkable for a driver of his caliber.

What's next:

Steiner's advice to Verstappen is clear: stay at Milton Keynes and fix the problem from within. He insists Red Bull still possesses the infrastructure and resources to recover, arguing that Verstappen's energy would be better spent ensuring the team stops bleeding talent and attracts fresh expertise. With no competitive seats available at the front-running Mercedes and Ferrari operations, and McLaren offering no guaranteed improvement, Verstappen appears to have little choice but to double down on Red Bull. Whether the reigning champions can deliver a turnaround before the season slips entirely away remains the critical question hanging over the second half of 2026.