Steiner winks at Antonelli: "Mercedes doesn't need Verstappen. Wolff already has the new Max"

Verstappen, what alternatives do you have to Red Bull?

The last two and a half years of Max Verstappen at Red Bull have not been peaceful. Amid team upheavals, power struggles, scandals, departures, and consequent technical confusion, the Dutchman has been the pillar of the team while everything around him changed. Staying focused on the track, avoiding bringing chaos into the cockpit once the visor was down, has been one of the toughest tests of his career. But this has come at a price.

Verstappen is a winner, and often during this period he has wondered if Red Bull is the right path to continue his career. The Milton Keynes team offered him a lavish contract until the end of 2028, but the Dutchman has had several opportunities to get out early by activating specific clauses linked to the car’s performance. He has not done so yet, and probably will not. The reason is simple: the alternatives for Verstappen are few and currently very difficult to pursue.

Steiner’s words

Also for Günther Steiner, the four-time world champion would do well to continue at Red Bull: “If he left, it would be to find a better team. But there are not many better teams, Red Bull is one of the top 4,” this is his comment. Steiner, indirectly, then pays a great compliment to Kimi Antonelli: “At Ferrari the seats are already taken. At Mercedes I believe they have now found the next Verstappen. So, maybe, they don’t need the real Max.”

There has also been talk of McLaren, also due to Gianpiero Lambiase’s arrival starting in 2028, but the papaya team is also happy with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri: “Moreover, Red Bull has an advantage, it has its own engine. McLaren is doing very well as a Mercedes customer, but if Max moves, it is to go to the best team around.”

In short, Verstappen will most likely stay at Red Bull next season as well. The top teams already have their seats “sorted” for 2027, and this gives them the upper hand. However, if there is a driver who can change the balance of the market at the highest level, it is Super Max.