Guenther Steiner suggests Mercedes no longer needs Max Verstappen
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 15, 2026, 11:30 AM
Last updated Aug 15, 2026

Former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner stated that Mercedes may have moved on from pursuing Max Verstappen, now seeing Kimi Antonelli as their potential star driver. Steiner's comments came during an interview on the Up To Speed podcast, where he evaluated the current state of teams including Red Bull and McLaren. While Red Bull remains competitive, Steiner noted they are not at their peak, impacting Verstappen’s options if he considers leaving. He emphasized that for Verstappen to leave, he would need a better opportunity, which may be limited in the current of Formula 1.
- •Guenther Steiner believes Mercedes has found a replacement for Verstappen.
- •Kimi Antonelli is viewed as Mercedes' next potential star driver.
- •Red Bull's current performance raises questions about Verstappen's future there.
- •Steiner commented on possible moves for Verstappen during a podcast interview.
- •Red Bull maintains an advantage with its own power unit compared to McLaren.
- 11:30 AMYahoo Sports — Mercedes no longer needs Max Verstappen, says Guenther Steiner
"Guenther Steiner believes Mercedes may no longer need to pursue Max Verstappen after Kimi Antonelli
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