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Guenther Steiner on Max Verstappen's McLaren Move: A Pointless Rumor

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Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has categorically rejected the persistent rumors suggesting a potential transfer of four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen to McLaren. Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast in anticipation of the Belgian Grand Prix, Steiner characterized these speculations as baseless. He argued that any such switch would represent a lateral career move for Verstappen, offering no real progress from his current position, despite the Dutchman's recent frustrations with his Red Bull vehicle.

Steiner elaborated on his perspective, asserting that a move to McLaren would not logically benefit Verstappen. He noted that McLaren is currently experiencing greater difficulties than Red Bull, making a transfer there an unappealing prospect for a driver of Verstappen's caliber. Steiner also highlighted McLaren CEO Zak Brown's consistent public support for his current drivers, implying that a sudden pursuit of Verstappen would contradict Brown's stated commitment and potentially damage his credibility.

The former team boss believes that Verstappen's most advantageous course of action is to remain with the Milton Keynes-based Red Bull team. Steiner stressed that while Verstappen may desire a different car, no other available option currently surpasses the one he commands at Red Bull. He advised Verstappen to concentrate his efforts on ensuring Red Bull retains its key personnel and continues to innovate, leveraging the team's robust infrastructure to regain its competitive edge.

As the Belgian Grand Prix, the tenth event of the 2026 season, approaches, Verstappen holds seventh place in the drivers' standings with 76 points. He trails the current championship leader, Kimi Antonelli, by a significant margin of 103 points. Steiner's comments underscore the complexity of driver market dynamics in Formula 1, where strategic career decisions are often influenced by team performance, stability, and future prospects.

Ultimately, Steiner's analysis suggests that despite the swirling rumors and Verstappen's current challenges, a move to McLaren would not be a step forward. Instead, he advocates for Verstappen to commit to improving Red Bull's fortunes, a path he believes offers the greatest potential for future success in the highly competitive world of Formula 1.

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Red Bull to Reintroduce 'Macarena' Wing at Hungarian Grand Prix After Safety Modifications

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Red Bull Racing is poised to reinstate its unique 'Macarena' rear wing at the forthcoming Hungarian Grand Prix, having implemented crucial safety enhancements. This announcement comes after the innovative wing, designed to boost straight-line speed, was sidelined following two incidents involving driver Max Verstappen. The team's technical director, Pierre Wache, has affirmed that mechanical flaws identified post-Silverstone have been rectified, and the revised component is deemed robust for competitive use.

The 'Macarena' wing, initially introduced by Ferrari and subsequently adopted by Red Bull at the Miami Grand Prix, offers a significant performance edge due to its rotating mechanism. However, its early deployment was marred by Max Verstappen's crashes during qualifying at the Red Bull Ring and the race at Silverstone. These setbacks prompted Red Bull to revert to a conventional rear wing for the recent Belgian Grand Prix while they worked on improving the design's integrity. Verstappen himself had previously expressed concerns, labeling the initial version as “super dangerous.”

According to Wache, the core issue was a mechanical problem with the wing's actuator, which has now been thoroughly addressed. The team has undertaken rigorous testing to guarantee its resilience and has engaged with the FIA to demonstrate the safety of the updated design. This collaboration with the sport's governing body underscores the seriousness with which Red Bull has approached the modifications, ensuring all safety protocols are met before the wing's return to active competition.

In related news from the Belgian Grand Prix's Free Practice sessions, Verstappen secured third place in FP2, trailing pacesetter Kimi Antonelli by nearly half a second, with McLaren's Lando Norris positioned between them. Despite Verstappen's strong showing, Wache indicated that there remains room for improvement in the car's overall balance, particularly concerning its performance on shorter runs and managing tire degradation. The team's focus will now shift to fine-tuning these aspects in preparation for the Hungarian Grand Prix, where the re-engineered 'Macarena' wing is expected to play a pivotal role in their competitive strategy.

The reintroduction of the 'Macarena' wing marks a significant development for Red Bull, highlighting their commitment to innovation while prioritizing driver safety. By addressing the previous mechanical failures and securing FIA approval, the team aims to leverage the wing's aerodynamic advantages to enhance their performance, particularly in races with long straights. The upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix will serve as a crucial test for the newly modified component and Red Bull's ongoing quest for optimal car performance.

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Norris downplays McLaren's practice pace despite strong showing

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During Friday's practice sessions at Spa-Francorchamps, the competitive landscape proved less clear-cut than one might anticipate at a track typically favoring raw engine power. A significant gap of nearly a second separated the top six vehicles in their soft-tire qualifying simulations during the second practice, with only Lando Norris approaching Kimi Antonelli's leading time within two-tenths of a second.

Although Norris significantly improved his lap time by nearly 1.8 seconds between the first and second practice sessions, both he and McLaren's technical director Neil Houldey remained unconvinced that this second-place finish accurately represented the car's true competitive position. Compounding this, Norris is also set to incur a grid penalty due to the installation of new power unit components for the weekend.

Spa's unique layout, which demands both low drag for its long straights and considerable downforce for its numerous high-speed corners, presents a complex setup challenge for teams. This challenge is further complicated by the stringent energy recovery requirements of the 2026 power units, as opportunities for recharging batteries through braking or lift-and-coast are minimal. Comparing the telemetry data between Norris and Antonelli reveals distinct differences in their energy deployment strategies. Norris's car displayed reduced electrical energy expenditure on the descent to Eau Rouge, leading to a speed deficit that peaked at Raidillon before he managed to regain some momentum. While Norris momentarily achieved a higher top speed on the Kemmel Straight, Antonelli's Mercedes began its 'super clipping' earlier, indicating a more strategic and long-term energy management approach that ultimately resulted in a quicker lap.

This ongoing battle for optimal energy management and aerodynamic efficiency underscores the relentless pursuit of performance in Formula 1. Teams continuously analyze data and experiment with various configurations to gain even the slightest advantage, reflecting the sport's core essence of innovation and strategic thinking.

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