McLaren must push to the absolute limit if they want to stop Max Verstappen’s qualifying dominance and secure pole positions in 2025.
Günther Steiner doesn’t believe McLaren has reached the kind of dominance once held by Red Bull or Mercedes. While the former Haas F1 team boss acknowledges that the MCL39 is currently the best car for tire management, he also points to tight qualifying battles and missed pole positions as signs that McLaren still has work to do.
“We all know McLaren has the strongest car right now,” Steiner said on the Red Flags podcast. “They won the Sprint, yes, but it wasn’t a dominant win. Over race distance, they manage the tires better, but it’s not a blowout. So what does that tell us?”
“They’re the strongest team at the moment. But they haven’t nailed pole position in qualifying. That shows there’s still progress to be made. I wouldn’t say they’re as dominant as Red Bull or Mercedes were in the past. They’re not quite there yet.”
When asked why Red Bull continues to shine in qualifying this season, Steiner didn’t hesitate to credit Max Verstappen.
“First of all, you’ve got ‘Super Max’ on a qualifying lap. He’s the guy who makes it happen,” Steiner said. “The car gives him the opportunity to pull off a lap, and he delivers. Sure, they struggle with tire degradation over the race, but for one-lap pace? They’ve still got it.”
As for McLaren’s drivers, Steiner was clear, against Verstappen, there’s no room for hesitation.
“You’re racing the best of the best. And that’s Max,” he said. “In qualifying, he becomes Super Max. Both McLaren drivers are very talented, but when you know you don’t need to take big risks, sometimes you don’t push all the way. You think, ‘I don’t need pole to win the race.’”
“But if you go at 99%, and Max is giving it 100%, that 1% is all he needs to beat you.”
Verstappen fumes as Red Bull pit chaos costs big win
Verstappen slams Red Bull after pit stop error in Miami Sprint, risking safety and title hopes in a costly, avoidable mistake.
Max Verstappen made no effort to hide his frustration after a series of pit stop errors from Red Bull, especially during the recent Sprint race in Miami. While internal staff changes have been rumored to be the cause, the reigning World Champion refuses to accept that as an excuse.
Several pit stops this season have already been slow or mishandled, but things came to a head in Miami. Verstappen looked poised for a win, but a poorly timed release from the pits saw him collide with Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes. The incident damaged the Red Bull’s front wing, compromised Antonelli’s race, and most worryingly, put both teams’ pit crews at serious risk. Verstappen was handed a 10-second penalty for the unsafe release.
So how did he react? Predictably, he was furious.
“I came back to the garage after the Sprint and they already knew I wouldn’t be happy,” Verstappen said. “But it’s important to understand why I was angry. First of all, it’s dangerous. That’s what matters most. The lost points come later.”
When asked whether these repeated issues could jeopardize his title defense, Verstappen was blunt: “That’s true, but they know that too.”
“This kind of thing shouldn’t be happening. Once, maybe, you can accept. But it’s happened too often lately. It’s frustrating. We need to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
The Miami mistake wasn’t the first pit stop issue of 2025. In Bahrain, Red Bull suffered delays due to a technical fault. Still, questions have been raised about whether changes in personnel are impacting performance.
The departure of long-time Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley, who now leads Audi’s Formula 1 project, has been especially significant. Wheatley had built the system that allowed Red Bull to consistently deliver pit stops under 2.5 seconds.
But Verstappen isn’t interested in excuses.
“Yes, of course, some people have been replaced,” he said. “Others are in different roles now. But it’s too easy to just blame that. It shouldn’t be happening. That’s the bottom line.”
Verstappen 2026: Could a Shock F1 Break Be Coming?
Max Verstappen may step away in 2026 as Red Bull falters. A sabbatical could reshape the F1 grid after regulation shifts.
Could Max Verstappen really step away from Formula 1 for a year? According to 1996 F1 World Champion Damon Hill, it might just be the smartest thing he could do if Red Bull can’t turn things around.
With Red Bull’s recent dip in form, Verstappen’s future has become one of the hottest topics in the paddock. Team advisor Helmut Marko has already admitted concerns that the reigning world champion might walk away if the team can’t deliver a competitive car.
Right now, Verstappen’s hopes of winning a fifth consecutive drivers’ title are fading fast. And with a performance clause in his contract, he could activate a release option as early as this summer.
Naturally, the rumors have started. Mercedes? Aston Martin? Both teams have been linked to the Dutch star. But there’s another, more radical option on the table: a sabbatical in 2026.
Taking a year off might not just be about strategy. Verstappen recently became a father to baby Lily, and priorities can shift fast with a growing family.
“Red Bull is fighting to keep Max, no doubt about it, no matter what Christian Horner says publicly,” Hill explained. “You just have to look around the paddock, the tension is real.”
“There’s a performance clause. And let’s be honest, Max always gives 100 percent. If the team isn’t holding up their end of the deal, that’s not on him.”
“If that clause kicks in, he’s free to go wherever he wants. That puts Red Bull under serious pressure.”
Could Mercedes be the next stop?
“George Russell is reportedly close to re-signing with Mercedes. Would they consider Max alongside him? Who knows, but it’s not impossible.”
As for the idea of taking a year off?
“I think it’s a real possibility,” Hill said. “With the new regulations coming in 2026, stepping back and watching how the teams adapt might be a clever move.”
“He’s still young. He’s already got four world titles and more race wins than most drivers rack up in a lifetime.”
“No one knows what the next few years will bring. So maybe the smart play is to sit out 2026, watch the field reset, and then choose the best team to come back with. And let’s be honest, any team in form will make room for Max.”
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