– There was just trouble between Max Verstappen and Juan Pablo Montoya, and now Max’s father Jos takes on the next Formula 1 expert. On social media, the Dutchman took a jab at longtime Haas team principal Günther Steiner.
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The 54-year-old commented on X on a post quoting Steiner saying that Max Verstappen probably only likes the 2026 Formula 1 regulations because he is currently not winning.
Specifically, Steiner said on the Red Flags Podcast after the Canadian race, where Verstappen finished third: “Max Verstappen was somewhat happier because he was on the podium. If he had won, he would probably be really happy. These would be the best rules ever.”
Even though Steiner made these statements with a wink, Jos Verstappen responded with the following entry: “Hello Günther. I understand why you are no longer a Formula 1 team principal. The way you talk.”
Steiner was team principal at Haas from 2014 to 2024 but had to make way for the current team boss Ayao Komatsu afterwards. Since the end of 2025, he has been active in MotoGP, where he took over the Tech3 team with a consortium.
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Nevertheless, Steiner remains a sought-after expert in Formula 1. However, for his statement about Max Verstappen, he receives pushback not only from father Jos but also from Daniel Juncadella, who was Verstappen’s teammate this year at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.
He writes on social media about the four-time world champion: “The guy has been warning everyone about the new rules since 2023. But the head of the consortium that took over the Tech3 MotoGP team knows better.”
In fact, Verstappen is among those in the paddock who were already skeptical about the new 2026 regulations years ago. For example, in 2023 he said that the regulations were “too complicated” and would feel “strange.”
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Because the Dutchman has already publicly criticized the rules several times this year, Juan Pablo Montoya recently suggested a race ban for Verstappen. The latter recently countered in an interview with De Telegraaf and said that Montoya “talks a lot of nonsense.”
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