Steiner: "The papaya rules are for Max"

15:17, 30 Oct

byBen Winship

Guenther Steiner believes McLaren's papaya rules have been self-destructive and played into Max Verstappen's title challenge.

"His [Max's] best ally to win this championship is McLaren."

- Guenther Steiner

Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, the former Haas F1 Team Principal said McLaren is Verstappen's 'best ally' to win the championship and that "the papaya rules are for Max."

After the Mexico GP Verstappen is just 36 points behind McLaren's championship leader Lando Norris, a gap which was as big as 104 points after the Dutch GP in August.

Since then, the four-time world champion has won three Grand Prix while the McLaren pair of Norris and Oscar Piastri have routinely taken points off each other with race-ending contact at the United States sprint race a definitive low point.

Steiner critical of McLaren

Steiner said: "We all know that Lando is not the the the most solid guy to make points, you know?"

"So why all of a sudden should he be the top performer all the time?

"You know he will have highlights, but with Max it's very rare that he puts his foot wrong. You know if he doesn't win or second he's third you know he always gets it home."

Verstappen, Norris and Piastri atop Monza podium

Max Verstappen has finished on the podium in each of the last six Grand Prix - Photo: RacePictures

"That's why I say McLaren by not supporting one guy, one [driver] wins the other one finishes sixth or seventh, then the other one wins, the other one finishes fifth or fourth - it's always up and down while Max normally brings brings it home pretty solid.

"And I think in Max's mind is he knows what he needs to do. He needs to be solid, he didn't do anything stupid at the end of the race in Mexico.

"I mean Max three years ago would have run over Leclerc with the risk to be taken out. He knows he needs to make points solidly. That's the only way he can win. And he's very smart in how [he's] doing it."

Steiner has also raised doubts on Oscar Piastri's title hopes after a recent slump in form.

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