WATCH: Guenther Steiner asks Max Verstappen to ‘FIGHT’ for the Driver’s Championship’ amidst heated tussle with Lando Norris 

Lando Norris is only 81 points behind Max Verstappen in the 2024 standings.

WATCH: Guenther Steiner asks Max Verstappen to ‘FIGHT’ for the Driver’s Championship’ amidst heated tussle with Lando Norris 

Max Verstappen, Guenther Steiner and Lando Norris (Via: Imago, Instagram/The Red Flags Podcast, screenshot)

Former Haas F1 team principal, Guenther Steiner has called for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to step up following an upturn in the form of McLaren this season. Verstappen collided with McLaren’s Lando Norris during the Austrian Grand Prix, which provoked much controversy between the two teams.

Max Verstappen is currently the reigning world champion, with three back-to-back championship titles to his name since 2021. Until the start of this season, most teams and pundits had deemed Verstappen unbeatable after his dominating run in the previous season, but the current campaign has shown that the 26-year-old Dutch driver is indeed vulnerable on track.

YouTube video

Guenther Steiner has therefore advised Verstappen to not shy away from a tough challenge against the competitive odds of McLaren and Norris, regardless of how easily he wins races or scores points. Steiner has also claimed that an easygoing attitude of Verstappen might end in jeopardy for the Dutch driver, as the papaya-outfit is bound to catch up to Red Bull if they do not bring in fresher upgrades to their car.

FS Video
He needs to fight for every little bit now because if McLaren keeps on getting stronger, at some stage he will have some missing points.
Guenther Steiner said on The Red Flags Podcast

Steiner has thereafter said that Lando Norris is championship-worthy material and can very well win this season with persistence and confidence. The upcoming race at Silverstone will be a crucial one for both McLaren and Red Bull, who will look to get back to winning ways after an unfortunate ending in Spielberg.

Sergio Perez set to start from the pits at the British Grand Prix

While Verstappen has been asked to fight tooth and nail, his Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez will start from the pits in the British GP, as per Motorsportweek. Amidst Perez’ struggles, a decision to fit new parts on the damaged RB20 was made. The 34-year-old was forced out of qualifying in Q1 after spinning on the gravel yesterday.

Sergio Perez
Sergio Perez (via IMAGO)

Sergio Perez‘s performance woes continued as he failed to get out of Q1 for the third time this season. The 34-year-old initially had a good start to the campaign, scoring four podiums out of five races but has since massively fallen short against the competitive likes of McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari.

The six-time race winner is set to equip a new internal combustion engine and energy store, which will make him start from the pits as per the rules of the FIA. Perez will therefore try his best to make up a few places on the grid early on in an attempt to finish realistically within the points around the challenging Silverstone circuit.

In case you missed it: