Max Verstappen May Have Missed His Opportunity to Join Mercedes, Says Guenther Steiner

Former Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner has suggested that four-time world champion Max Verstappen missed his best opportunity to join Mercedes and now faces a closed door at the Brackley-based team. Steiner believes Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff is unlikely to disrupt the current driver partnership with George Russell and rising talent Kimi Antonelli.

The Window That Closed

Steiner recalled that Verstappen was considered as a potential Mercedes option during negotiations around George Russell's contract. At that time, the Dutchman was uncertain about his future and ultimately chose to remain at Red Bull and wait for new technical regulations. According to Steiner, that indecision cost Verstappen dearly. "I think Max was uncertain about what the future held, and in the end, the opportunity slipped by. He was convinced to stay and wait for the new regulations, but now it's simply too late," Steiner explained on The Red Flags Podcast.

Verstappen's future has become a central conversation in Formula 1 as Red Bull has struggled with consistency and reliability. The four-time champion faced a mechanical rear wing failure at the British Grand Prix and has been outspoken about the performance of the team's machinery. These difficulties have fueled persistent speculation linking him to potential moves to Mercedes or McLaren. Currently, Verstappen sits seventh in the standings with 76 points, while Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli leads with 179 points.

Why Mercedes Won't Act

Steiner's assessment centers on the strategic position Mercedes has built. The team has invested significantly in developing Russell and securing Antonelli as a long-term prospect. Bringing in Verstappen would require substantially higher financial outlay while risking team harmony. "Why would you spend more money to get Max in? The only way Max would come in is if George leaves. He costs a lot more than George and would maybe unsettle Kimi," Steiner noted. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, in Steiner's view, understands these dynamics too well to make such a move. "Toto is too smart to do that, in my opinion," he concluded.

Steiner further suggested that Verstappen's approach to team dynamics may not align with Mercedes' operational culture. "If he were at Mercedes and behaved like that, they'd immediately say, 'That's not how we operate here,'" he added, referencing the driver's on-radio outbursts about team performance.