'Once Verstappen is Champion, the rivalry will only grow'

For the first time in years, Formula 1 will see a battle between two teams. Where seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton was the big favourite for years, this season he has to battle with Max Verstappen. Haas team boss Guenther Steiner doesn't dare to say yet who will win the world championship.

Steiner sees Hamilton and Verstappen as two drivers with character. "Big personalities with ditto egos," he states in conversation with the NOS. "Right now we are still in the phase where Lewis and Max are handing out compliments to each other. They act relaxed and nice, but that's going to change over the course of the season. And once Max is champion, the rivalry will only grow."

The team boss argues that Verstappen is ready for the fight. "He has enough experience despite his age to be a champion. He also doesn't need to race as aggressively and attackingly anymore because he has a really good car now. Lewis makes few mistakes, but the question is whether he has really been under pressure in recent years. If there's no real threat, it's pretty easy to drive error-free."

The Haas team is doing a lot less this season. The team's drivers Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher have so far finished in the last few places. In Portugal the two drivers will also start from the back row.