Steiner predicts the next F1 champion - And it's not Verstappen!
Interview
- Ludo van Denderen
Guenther Steiner was convinced for a long time last season that Lando Norris would win his first world title in Formula 1. In the end, not the Briton, but Max Verstappen was crowned as champion, for the fourth time in a row. Still, the former Haas F1 team principal is not betting on the Dutchman to win his fifth title in 2025, he explained to GPblog in an exclusive interview.
Guenther Steiner can only laugh very hard. Indeed, nods the Italian, he was wrong with his prediction last season. Afterwards, the current analyst, talking from the United States, began: "I need to get it right then this time! Then let's start being defensive. It will be very difficult to predict because I think the four teams will be very close, the four big teams."
Once Steiner weighed in on how balanced the season could turn out to be, he concludes that a McLaren driver is going to be the champion: "My favorite for [the championship] on [the] performance side, I think it's McLaren. They were very good last year. I think they earned a lot last year. They get prepared a lot better because they had time to regroup and to get prepared."
"They've got a very strong driver line-up with the two of them [Norris, and Piastri]. They got a lot of confidence from last year, which helps as well. So my favourite is them. But it will not be an easy walk. If they make any mistakes or if they are undecisive, they will end up like last year. They need to be more confident of themselves [in terms of] what they can do."
Steiner sees Hamilton having a chance at Ferrari
In Italy, the main hope is for Lewis Hamilton to help Ferrari to their first world title since 2008, when they were crowned constructors' champions. About the seven-time champion's new team, Steiner says: "With Ferrari, you never know how good the car is. It's always the biggest [question]. But I think last year they went into and especially towards the end of the season to have good development, to make right moves."
"They were very solid, very well organised, and Lewis getting there... Obviously, everybody is on their toes. And obviously Fred [Vasseur] wants a world championship, so Lewis wants a world championship, the eighth. So I think they will be good as well," he continued.
Hamilton's former team, Mercedes, however, are the big question marks for Steiner in 2025. "Last year, they had some races, they were very good. And some days, they were very bad for Mercedes."
Next season, Mercedes will have George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli driving their cars. "Their driver line-up, I wouldn't say the weakest one, the most unknown one. Because Kimi Antonelli, you need to give him the benefit of doubt, but obviously, he's 18 years old. Never raced in F1. He did a FP1."
What can Verstappen do at Red Bull Racing?
Finally, Steiner talked about Red Bull Racing, which has Liam Lawson within their ranks alongside champion Verstappen. "I think Liam is still a rookie even if he drove some races last year, some races in ‘23. This still make him a rookie. But they've got Max. Having Max helps you. In my opinion, obviously, he's the guy with the biggest talent in the moment. So that helps."
"But the second driver is not on par with the second driver at Ferrari or at McLaren. So they are still weaker there. And with Red Bull, you just need to see if they find their way again after last year. I think the favourite is McLaren followed clearly by a Ferrari and then the other two for me, a little bit unknown. They could be very good, but they could not be."
Still, Steiner will not count out Mercedes and Red Bull: "They will be always good in Formula One. They will be always able to do a podium, but maybe not the team which is going to win the World Championship."
This article was written in collaboration with Kada Sárközi
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