Steiner to Verstappen: No More Snoozing at Season's Start

Max Verstappen's recent form in the 2026 F1 season has been nothing short of electrifying, yet it's a little too late for a serious title bid. Having just clinched victories in Malaysia and Singapore, the Dutch driver has climbed to fourth in the standings, trailing George Russell for second by a mere 17 points. His Red Bull RB22 is finally demonstrating its prowess, but the gap to championship leader Kimi Antonelli remains a daunting 119 points, with only 150 points left to contest.

Verstappen's partnership with Gianpiero Lambiase has yielded impressive results, but the start of the season was a different story. The Red Bull driver didn't see a podium until the Canadian Grand Prix, as the team struggled with a car plagued by instability. Frequent spins and crashes, notably during qualifying in Austria and the British and Dutch Grands Prix, marked a frustrating beginning. Verstappen didn't hesitate to criticize the RB22 and the new regulations that seemed to hold it back.

However, recent developmental strides by Laurent Mekies and his team have transformed the car into a formidable contender. Verstappen is once again showcasing his exceptional talent, but, as Guenther Steiner points out, it's a recurring theme—his best performances often come late in the season. The former Haas team principal quipped that Verstappen might need to curtail his Christmas holidays to avoid 'falling asleep' at the season's start.

Steiner, speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, noted that while Verstappen might still snatch second place, the title is out of reach, rendering the championship battle somewhat anticlimactic. With Antonelli's unexpected dominance early on, the narrative shifted to Verstappen's resurgence, though it's a story seen before.

Reflecting on 2025, Verstappen was similarly behind post-Dutch GP but closed the year just two points shy of Lando Norris. Mercedes' Toto Wolff remains optimistic about Verstappen's chances for 2027, though the pattern of sluggish starts could be a persistent obstacle.

As the season winds down, Verstappen hopes for a smoother ride into 2027, avoiding the pitfalls of previous campaigns. The Dutchman will need to ensure that his Red Bull is sharp from the get-go to avoid another year of late-season heroics without a title to show for it.