Overview
- Guenther Steiner said on the Red Flags podcast that Max Verstappen’s criticism of the 2026 regulations looks like political theatre aimed at changing engine rules.
- Dani Juncadella and Jos Verstappen posted rapid rebuttals on X the same day, with Juncadella defending Max’s long-standing warnings and Jos mocking Steiner’s tone.
- Max Verstappen has kept up vocal attacks on the new power units since the January Barcelona shakedown and repeated his calls for further change after Red Bull’s podium in Canada.
- The dispute highlights wider friction in the paddock over the 2026 chassis and power-unit package, with the FIA signalling only incremental 2027 tweaks so far.
- The public row raises the chance that high-profile driver statements will carry weight in rule talks, which could alter engine-spec decisions and team development plans for 2027.