![\"Steiner](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/XPB_1294146_HiRes.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGuenther Steiner has blasted Max Verstappen over his thoughts on the new F1 regulations. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGuenther Steiner has blasted Max Verstappen over his thoughts on the new F1 regulations. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
The four-time world champion has been one of the most vocal detractors of the 2026 rules<\/a>, describing the cars as \u201cFormula E on steroids\u201d and likening the racing to \u201cMario Kart\u201d following a difficult start to the season.<\/p>\n Verstappen\u2019s frustrations have been compounded by results, with a sixth-place finish in Australia<\/a> followed by a non-finish in China<\/a>, leaving him with just eight points from the opening two rounds.<\/p>\n But Steiner believes the criticism says more about Red Bull\u2019s current form than the regulations themselves.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not the fault of the regulations [for Max\u2019s retirement], that\u2019s the fault of the team if the car cannot start,\u201d he told talkSPORT.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s like the two McLarens not starting, that has not happened for a long time that two cars cannot even start a race.<\/p>\n \u201cYou cannot blame the regulations because most of the other cars started the race, except for [Gabriel] Bortoleto and [Alex] Albon.<\/p>\n \u201cMax is not happy because the car is not where he likes it to be.\u201d<\/p>\n The former Haas team boss pointed to the challenge of Red Bull\u2019s new in-house power unit, developed with Ford, as a key factor behind the team\u2019s early struggles.<\/p>\n \u201cRed Bull have a brand new engine and it\u2019s advanced technology, it takes some time for the engineers to get used to,\u201d Steiner added.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I\u2019m actually surprised how the new engine manufacturers like Ford and Audi have done, so it will improve after a little bit of time.\u201d<\/p>\n Steiner was blunt in his assessment of Verstappen\u2019s reaction to the situation.<\/p>\n \u201cMax always throws the toys out of the pram when it doesn\u2019t go his way.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite complaints from some drivers about energy harvesting, increased lap times and the nature of overtaking, Steiner backed the new regulations and the racing they have produced so far.<\/p>\n \u201cThe racing was pretty good,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, people like Max maybe don\u2019t like change, and he\u2019s not used to not being in one of the best cars, so that doesn\u2019t help his mood to like the new regulations.<\/p>\n \u201cI think they are actually pretty good. They will develop over time. All the teams are just learning at the moment what is going on, because it\u2019s an advanced technology.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the racing was good, and that\u2019s the most important thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
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