Guenther Steiner pegs his hopes on Charles Leclerc for snatching away Max Verstappen’s F1 Championship in 2024

The 2023 F1 season displayed a rampant performance from reigning world champion Max Verstappen. No other drivers on the grid could match his pace in races, and this was evident by his impressive 19-race wins during the season. However, the Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner has expressed his desire for Charles Leclerc to succeed Verstappen as the world champion for 2024.

The Italian-American raised his opinions about someone challenging Red Bull and Verstappen for the following season. Additionally, Steiner hoped for more competition and highlighted his interest in Charles Leclerc succeeding the Dutchman as the next world champion. This will in turn also benefit the American team due to Haas’ long-time technical partnership with Scuderia Ferrari.

I would say that someone is going to challenge Red Bull and Max next year, I think we are going to have more fight. I don't know who exactly will, but I hope it is Charles who succeeds Max as champion, Because that would mean they have a good package and at the same time, we will also have a good one. We are a little selfish, 

Guenther told Sky Sports F1.

Further, as Leclerc’s contract would potentially end by 2024, Steiner also reckoned that the team driver changes after 2024 would allow more young talents to enter the sport. The 58-year-old asserted that many of the current drivers on the grid could leave the sport after the contract ends. This would allow the risk of presenting a young talent with a better chance to race on the grid.

I think there may be a lot of team changes in 2024 and we can also have several new pilots on the grid. They are facing a great opportunity to take the leap, many of the current drivers can leave Formula 1, run out of seat for poor performance and maybe it's a better chance to risk with a young talent

Guenther Steiner emphasized on F1’s new generation

According to Guenther Steiner, many young people were entering the sport of Formula 1. However, many fewer youngsters complained about the difficulty for newbies in the sport, as pointed out by Steiner. In addition to this, the rookies entering the sport were feared by everyone on the grid.

The boss recalled the Oscar Piastri situation and how he performed very well in his rookie season in Formula 1. And, if Piastri can perform well, so can the other rookies entering the sport in 2025, commented Steiner. Hence, more rookies entering the sport could enable further competition in the sport by challenging the front-runners like Verstappen and Leclerc.

However, Haas had a disappointing stint in 2023 and aimed at scoring better for the following season. The American constructor is continuously working over the winter break in an attempt to improve its position in the 2024 season. Charles Leclerc has also talked about his hopes of competing for the championship in the next season.

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