Steiner: Mercedes 'Too Smart' to Sign Verstappen

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has questioned why Mercedes would pursue Max Verstappen, insisting Toto Wolff is "too smart" to disrupt his current lineup. With George Russell and championship leader Kimi Antonelli already in place, Steiner sees little reason for the Brackley squad to make a move.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's potential availability has fueled paddock speculation, but Mercedes is uniquely positioned to ignore it. The team leads the 2026 standings through Antonelli, while Russell is already established as a front-running talent. Adding Verstappen's massive salary could unsettle Antonelli and fracture a stable garage for only marginal gain.

The details:

• On The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner argued Mercedes already has "the next superstar" in Russell and questioned why Wolff would pay a premium to sign Verstappen.
• He warned that bringing in the Dutchman could directly unsettle Antonelli, who currently tops the championship with 179 points after nine rounds.
• Verstappen's season has stalled badly. He sits seventh with just 76 points after a rear wing failure at the British Grand Prix prompted heated radio complaints about his Red Bull's reliability.
• Steiner also noted that alternatives like McLaren lack either the budget or the competitive package to satisfy Verstappen's demands.

What's next:

With Red Bull struggling and Mercedes committed to its young stars, Verstappen's escape routes from Milton Keynes look increasingly limited. Unless Russell or Antonelli makes way—a scenario Steiner considers highly unlikely—the four-time champion may have to wait for a Red Bull recovery or accept a move to a midfield team.