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According to Guenther Steiner, Max Verstappen already regrets not accepting previous offers to join Mercedes. The former Haas team principal also claims that the door for the four-time champion to make that transfer is now definitively closed.
Verstappen's future has been a subject of intense speculation in Formula 1 due to the turbulent period at Red Bull. The Dutchman's frustration peaked during the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, where a recurring rear wing issue led to his crash at Stowe corner.
The mechanical problem, similar to one he experienced at the Austrian Grand Prix, triggered a series of heated radio messages with his team.
While rumors persistently link Verstappen with a departure from the Milton Keynes-based team, Steiner suggests the Dutchman missed his opportunity to join Mercedes.
During an appearance on The Red Flags podcast, Steiner explained: “Absolutely. I’m sure Max regrets it. But at that time, all negotiations were with George and Mercedes. I think the alternative would have been Max, but in my opinion, he just wasn’t sure what would happen in the future. And so his opportunity slipped away.”
“I believe the chance was then and there, and I don’t know if he could have gotten out of his contract that year,” he added.
To explain why he believes it's now “too late” for the 28-year-old driver to join the Brackley-based team, Steiner pointed to Mercedes' strong current driver lineup. Both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli are expected to remain with Mercedes through 2027, after team boss Toto Wolff recently confirmed he would like to retain his current drivers for next year.
“But Max was convinced to stay where he is and waited for the new regulations, and now it obviously seems too late,” Steiner concluded.
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