Guenther Steiner deems Max Verstappen the ‘ROCKSTAR’ of first half of 2024 despite losing out on several races
Max Verstappen has so far amassed seven Grand Prix wins during the ongoing season.
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Guenther Steiner and Max Verstappen (images via IMAGO)
Max Verstappen won an impressive 34 races between 2022-23. The reigning champion wanted to continue his might on the F1 grid and has further acquired seven more wins this season, more than any other driver. This utter dominance on the grid despite rivals catching up to Red Bull, urged former Haas team boss Guenther Steiner to claim that the Dutchman has been a rockstar this season.
Guenther Steiner was the team principal at Haas since the team’s formation and soon became a fan favorite due to Netlfix’s DTS series. However, after he was sacked by Haas, he moved to a commentator role owing to his stardom and has been giving valuable insights during multiple podcasts.
On the other hand, the Italian-American has been up and close to the grid multiple times this year. He has witnessed Max Verstappen continue his reign and build an almost unsurmountable gap with only 10 races remaining in the calendar in the driver’s standings.
You're right, it is (rockstar) Max. He won most of the races of any of the drivers now. He gives us entertainment, even if he doesn't win. He always tries hard, what more you want from a guy.Guenther Steiner via the Red Flags Podcast
Subsequently, when his co-host claimed the 26-year-old to be the rockstar of the season. The 59-year-old affirmed with the prior statement. Furthermore, he elaborated on how Verstappen has been at the sharp end and how he has given fans entertainment despite not having the fastest car on paper anymore.
Guenther Steiner gives his take on the McLaren line-up
While Verstappen has been able to save his lead in the driver’s standings for quite some while. On the other hand, his team has been plummeting in the constructor’s standings tally as McLaren is making a surge on Red Bull. This stark contrast in the two team’s fates conveys how the team’s driver pair is contributing to the manufacturer’s success.
Steiner gave an honest opinion on the papaya duo.
I think Lando[Norris] shouldn't be as self-critical as he is, because I don't think it helps him. You have to be critical, but you don't have to apologise. We all make mistakes, just move on and keep on going. With Oscar[Piastri], I'm not surprised that he is who he is. [He is] introverted almost, he doesn't say a lot. He's very calm always, I think he is a very good guy.Guenther Steiner said in an interview with RacingNews365
The 59-year-old reckoned that while Lando Norris was the star driver of the English team, he is often seen apologizing for his mistakes that differentiate him from world champions. On the contrary, he praised Oscar Piastri as the Aussie is often the calmest driver on the grid and brings home solid points for McLaren.
Despite Verstappen being named as the rockstar of the 2024 season so far, a major threat lies behind him in the form of Norris and Piastri. Thus, the final 10 races of the calendar could make a crucial difference in the standings.
In case you missed it:
- Frederic Vasseur asserts Ferrari “reduced the gap by 300 per cent” on Max Verstappen’s Red Bull
- Stefano Domenicali refuses to rule out the possibility of introducing “inverted grid” to F1 sprint races
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Geetansh Pasricha
(772 Articles Published)