Max Verstappen Won’t Repeat Fernando Alonso’s Biggest Career Mistake
Guenther Steiner is of the opinion that Max Verstappen won't follow a trajectory like Fernando Alonso during his prime F1 years.
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Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen (via F1)
Fernando Alonso is currently the oldest driver on the F1 grid. The Asturian has been racing in the pinnacle of motorsport since the 2001 season, with a sabbatical between 2018 and 2021. Despite being 44 years old, he isn’t showing signs of slowing down as he will race in the sport in the coming season.
Amid the preparations for 2026, ex-F1 team boss Guenther Steiner has talked about Max Verstappen not following a career trajectory like Alonso. Fernando Alonso won two driver’s titles early on in his career. However, his career stagnated after the 2013 season, in which he achieved his 32nd and latest race win.
Though Alonso is highly motivated for his 33rd win and even the third title win, he might not taste success again. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen is in a league of his own and just lost the title fight to Lando Norris after four consecutive victories.
If time is any proof, Max Verstappen has shown that he can defy all odds and perform well even in an inferior challenger. Regardless of the team’s struggling efforts, he kept up with his race-winning pace, something which Fernando Alonso couldn’t do at Aston Martin.
As such, Guenther Steiner noted that Max Verstappen would keep fighting for the driver’s title and even switch teams if he did not believe in the Red Bull project anymore. Steiner boldly claimed that Verstappen would not make a move like Fernando Alonso, who funnily picked all the wrong cars at the right time.
Though Guenther Steiner lauded Alonso as a ‘talented’ driver, he still couldn’t perform well in any team because of his poor decisions. Steiner believes that with Max Verstappen’s camp having his father Jos Verstappen and manager Raymond Vermeulen, the former wouldn’t end up in a team performing poorly under the regulations.
He can make it happen on his side, with the contract he has, and I think he has already planned for that, He won’t make a move like Fernando Alonso. Fernando was very good at picking the wrong car all the time. Fernando is a talent, but he has always put himself in the wrong car. Max will not make that mistake because between Jos, his father, and Raymond Vermeulen, they will make sure they get him in the right car.
Guenther Steiner said on the Red Flags podcast.
Guenther Steiner claims ‘leading team’ will want Max Verstappen by 2027
Certainly, Max Verstappen is one of the greatest drivers, if not the greatest, drivers witnessed in Formula 1. The Dutchman is currently the top performer, and this is synonymous with everyone’s minds in the sport. As such, many drivers will have to fear Verstappen in 2027 as he can join any team he wants, which has nailed the new regulations in 2026.
Guenther Steiner asserted that Max Verstappen would be in the right car at all times to continue his success in Formula 1, unlike Fernando Alonso. The former Haas F1 team principal reckoned that the Dutchman had a very smart group of people around him. Since Verstappen’s contract is open for him to explore, the team with the leading car will definitely want to hire the four-time champion in their squad as soon as the 2027 season.
I think that Max will be in the right car, so he will continue with the success, He’s very smart, and he’s surrounded by smart people. I think his contract is open, and whoever has the leading car will want Max Verstappen, and they will make it happen.
Guenther Steiner noted.
Despite the massive discussions and speculations on this topic, Max Verstappen has always remained loyal to Red Bull. The 28-year-old even hinted at ending his career at the Austrian squad. As such, it will be interesting to witness what is next in the cards for the four-time champion as he aims to clinch back the championship title from Lando Norris in 2026.
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