Steiner's Strategy Push Aggressive Verstappen to Penalty

Steiner Urges Rivals to Press Verstappen for Penalties

10/07/2024

Steiner advises rivals to challenge Verstappen’s aggressive driving style to draw penalties in the races.

Günther Steiner refrained from blaming Max Verstappen for the clash with Lando Norris in Austria.

More specifically, the consultant believes that everyone knows the Red Bull driver races aggressively, and this has become customary.

“I am not a judge, so I will not say whether it was right or wrong, but that’s motor racing,” said the former Haas F1 director. “Who was at fault? No one can deny that Max drives aggressively.”

“In a race, you have to force your own space. What Max has already done well in 2020 and 2021 is drive aggressively. He invented the braking manoeuvre. And why is he so good? Because he manages to do it without being penalized.”

Steiner compares Verstappen to Fernando Alonso and thinks Verstappen’s rivals need to be patient to push him into being penalized, which is a unique view of motor racing as it implies a driver has to accept not being able to overtake, even if they are faster than their rival.

“Alonso is like that. You don’t want to anger him. It’s the same with Max. What Lando needs to learn is that he has to assert his point of view. In Austria, he paid a high price with a retirement. It could just as well have happened to Max. If you keep fighting, Max will automatically get a penalty and he will be put in his place.”

Steiner’s Strategy: Push Aggressive Verstappen to Penalty Steiner’s Strategy: Push Aggressive Verstappen to Penalty

F1 Standings 2025
F1 Standings 2025
#
Driver
Points
1
Driver Flag
Max Verstappen
Red Bull
0
2
Driver Flag
Lando Norris
McLaren
0
3
Driver Flag
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
0
4
Driver Flag
Oscar Piastri
McLaren
0
5
Driver Flag
Carlos Sainz
Williams
0
6
Driver Flag
George Russell
Mercedes
0
#
Team
Points
1
McLaren
Norris & Piastri
0
2
Ferrari
Leclerc & Hamilton
0
3
Red Bull
Verstappen & Lawson
0
4
Mercedes
Russell & Antonelli
0
5
Aston Martin
Alonso & Stroll
0
6
Alpine
Gasly & Doohan
0
F1 Calendar 2025
F1 CALENDAR 2025
Race Date
Australia Flag
Australian
Albert Park
16 Mar
China Flag
Chinese
Shanghai International
23 Mar
Japan Flag
Japanese
Suzuka Circuit
6 Apr
Bahrain Flag
Bahrain
Bahrain International
13 Apr
Saudi Arabia Flag
Saudi Arabian
Jeddah Street
20 Apr
FULL CALENDAR
Race Center

Race Center

Australian flag
Australian GP
13 Mar - 16 Mar
Your time Local time
FP1 13 MAR 15:30
FP2 13 MAR 19:00
FP3 14 MAR 15:30
QU 14 MAR 19:00
RACE 15 MAR 18:00
Go toTop