Jos Verstappen hits back after Steiner's verdict on Max: "That’s why you’re out of F1"

Steiner said on The Red Flags podcast that if Verstappen were winning, he would be very happy and would call the existing regulations the best ever. Max's father, Jos Verstappen, responded under a post sharing the former F1 team boss' words. “Hi Guenther. I understand why you not a F1 team boss anymore. The way you talk,” he wrote on social media.

Verstappen Sr. wasn’t the only one critical of Steiner’s verdict. Verstappen’s teammate in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, Dani Juncadella, also reacted negatively: “Guy has warned everyone about the new regs since 2023 but the head of the consortium that acquired the Tech 3 MotoGP team knows better.”

Verstappen has indeed not been positive about the regulations for some time. After the Miami Grand Prix, "in principle," an agreement with the engine manufacturers to change the power split in the engines from 50/50 to 60/40 was announced by the FIA. As a result, Verstappen first confirmed in an interview that he would stay in F1 for the 2027 season ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix.

However, those adjustments appear to be on shaky ground for various reasons. The Dutchman then said to GPblog, among others, after qualifying in Montreal: "If it stays like this, it's going to be a long year next year, which I don't want. I can tell you if it stays like this, then let's see. It's just mentally not doable for me to stay like this. It's really not.” Verstappen also ruled out a sabbatical. He is therefore putting the ball in the court of the Formula 1 manufacturers.