Günther Steiner has publicly admitted his error regarding a prediction that Max Verstappen would not secure a single Grand Prix victory during the 2026 Formula 1 season. This admission follows Verstappen’s recent win at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
Steiner, the former Haas team principal, made his initial forecast on The Red Flags Podcast in September 2026, after the Spanish Grand Prix. He stated that Red Bull’s car lacked the competitiveness to challenge for wins, believing Mercedes and McLaren held a significant advantage.
At that time, Steiner asserted that Verstappen’s talent would only be sufficient for podium finishes, marking the limit of the RB22’s capabilities. Verstappen was then sixth in the Drivers’ Championship with 145 points, having achieved second-place finishes in Austria, Hungary, and Spain.
The 2026 season has presented challenges for Red Bull, with the new regulations introducing a 50/50 hybrid power split and increased energy management demands. Verstappen himself had voiced strong criticism, describing the new rules as ‘anti-racing’ and comparing them to ‘Mario Kart’.
However, Red Bull has implemented significant in-season upgrades to the RB22, including a new floor body, diffuser, and sidepods, notably introduced around the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. These developments aimed to address earlier weaknesses in high- and medium-speed corners.
Verstappen secured his first victory of the 2026 season at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on October 4, 2026. Starting from pole position at the Sepang International Circuit, he overcame a rain-disrupted start and strategic challenges to win by 2.307 seconds over Kimi Antonelli.
This win marked Red Bull’s first triumph as a works outfit in 2026 with their Red Bull Ford Powertrains unit. It was Verstappen’s 72nd career victory and his eighth podium finish of the current season, demonstrating a clear progression in performance.
Laurent Mekies, Red Bull’s CEO and Team Principal, acknowledged the positive trend since the summer break, noting incremental performance gains. While Mercedes remains a benchmark, Red Bull now consistently contends for podiums.
