As the 2025 Formula 1 season unfolds, Max Verstappen, the reigning champion driving for Red Bull, is battling to reclaim his dominance amid rising competition. Despite winning multiple recent races, Verstappen faces doubts over his ability to sustain a credible Max Verstappen title challenge due to McLaren’s superior car performance this year, according to former F1 team principal Guenther Steiner.
Verstappen began the season under pressure as McLaren’s MCL39 emerged as the standout car, overtaking Red Bull over the winter. Although Verstappen secured two consecutive victories, his campaign has been inconsistent. Early struggles with car balance saw him retire in Austria and finish ninth in Belgium, casting uncertainty on his bid to defend his championship.
After the summer break, Red Bull improved the RB21 with a floor upgrade, enabling Verstappen to regain some pace. This led to a strong second place at Zandvoort, followed by victories at Monza and Baku. These results have brought Verstappen within 69 points of championship leader Oscar Piastri, who suffered retirement in Azerbaijan. Such a turnaround sparked speculation that Verstappen’s title bid was gaining serious momentum.
Guenther Steiner Questions Verstappen’s Ability to Catch McLaren
Despite Verstappen’s recent successes, Guenther Steiner, speaking on the Red Flags podcast, expressed skepticism about the Dutch driver’s chances to close the gap. Steiner emphasized that McLaren’s car might still be the faster package over a full race weekend. He said,
“I don’t think Max will win a lot more races this year. I think the McLarens will,He might not do anything wrong, but I think the McLaren is just a better car. McLaren had one bad race.We all agree on one thing. Max is the best. We all agree on that. But I would wait to see how good the upgrade is for a ‘normal race track’.” – Guenther Steiner, Former Haas F1 Team Boss
“These are high-speed tracks, and they are different. So see if it works, if it has got the same effect on a normal track, because on the normal track, the McLaren is the best car. So let’s wait a little bit,” added Steiner
Steiner’s remarks highlight the importance of track characteristics in determining car performance. He suggests that while Verstappen’s wins came on fast circuits, the overall strength of the McLaren may prevail on more conventional layouts during the remaining rounds.
The Role of Red Bull’s Upgrades in Verstappen’s Recent Wins
Verstappen has acknowledged difficulties early in the season, particularly around optimizing the RB21’s setup and tire usage. Frequent adjustments throughout practice and qualifying were necessary as the team sought to find the right balance. However, he noted that Red Bull’s understanding of the car has since improved significantly, reducing the need for drastic changes on race weekends.
“We don’t need to try so many things with the car anymore. Not having to make those radical changes during a race weekend makes it much more enjoyable,” said Verstappen (via Motorsport)
“Yes. And that’s down to all the things we’ve learned about this car,” said Max when asked if the car is now in the optimal working window
“We’ve had a lot of discussions about how we can improve things and how we can test certain elements. In the end it turns out that we’ve handled that quite well,” he added
This improved consistency has helped Verstappen extract more performance and contributed to his string of strong finishes after the summer break, indicating progress in Red Bull’s development path.
Championship Outlook and Challenges Ahead for Verstappen
Currently trailing Oscar Piastri, the Australian lead driver for McLaren, by 69 points, Verstappen faces an uphill battle to claim a fifth consecutive world title. The championship fight is set to continue over seven remaining races, during which Verstappen must average at least 10 points more per race than Piastri to overturn the deficit.
The title run will depend heavily on how Red Bull’s upgrades perform on diverse circuits and whether the RB21 can match or surpass McLaren’s pace on different track types. Verstappen’s ability to consistently finish on the podium while maximizing points haul will be crucial in maintaining his championship hopes.
Verstappen’s performance, combined with strategic decisions by both teams, will shape the conclusion of a closely fought championship. All eyes will remain on how the RB21 and MCL39 evolve, as well as the drivers’ ability to capitalize on opportunities as the season reaches its decisive stages.
