Norris Needs a Miracle: Steiner on Verstappen’s Dominance

Steiner praises Verstappen’s fierce determination, dismissing luck as a factor in the champion’s path to success in São Paulo.

Günther Steiner, former Haas team principal, is full of praise for Max Verstappen’s impressive performances over recent weeks, particularly at the São Paulo Grand Prix.

According to Steiner, the triple world champion from Red Bull Racing displayed unwavering determination, seizing every opportunity for victory and cementing his position as a deserving champion. Steiner leaves no room for ambiguity: Verstappen’s success is anything but luck.

Lando Norris, the McLaren driver, seemed well-placed to score valuable championship points in Brazil. Starting from pole position while Verstappen began in seventeenth, Norris appeared to have every advantage to extend his lead. Yet Verstappen quickly closed the gap, and against all odds, not only caught up with Norris but ultimately claimed victory.

This Brazilian weekend was a blow for Norris, who had hoped to narrow the points gap with Verstappen after a solid result in Mexico. The difference between the two drivers now stands at 62 points—a gap Steiner sees as insurmountable. “He’d need a miracle,” Steiner remarked to TalkSPORT Driving. “Before this race, I still saw Lando as a serious contender for the title, as he was steadily chipping away at Verstappen’s lead. Now, he doesn’t just need a small miracle; he needs a monumental one.”

Verstappen Silences the Doubters

As Verstappen potentially edges toward a fourth consecutive title, he has shown he can remain at the top even amid rising competition from McLaren and Ferrari, who have steadily closed the gap with Red Bull throughout the season. This latest victory, in Steiner’s view, showcases Verstappen’s raw talent. “Max was often criticised in previous years—people claimed he only won because he had the fastest car. Now he can say: I didn’t have the fastest car, yet I’m on the verge of being champion. He’s done it all through his own efforts,” Steiner says with admiration.

Nevertheless, Verstappen did not escape criticism for his race tactics against Norris in Mexico. In Steiner’s eyes, however, the driver demonstrated intelligence and finesse. “In recent weeks, his mission was clear: to hold back Norris’s ambitions while securing maximum points for Ferrari. In Brazil, he seized the chance the rain provided to take the win. This kind of initiative shows he’s a champion worthy of the title.”

“Max had to fight hard for this victory. It’s not a question of luck, but of pure talent,” Steiner continues, directly responding to Norris’s comments following the São Paulo race. Steiner even suggests Verstappen faced some misfortune at Interlagos. “The weekend wasn’t easy for him, but he took control and delivered an exceptional performance,” the Italian concluded.

In sum, Günther Steiner believes Verstappen’s success is down solely to his skill and perseverance, effectively putting an end to any lingering doubts about the legitimacy of his victories.