Steiner says Verstappen 'absolutely regrets' missing his chance to join Mercedes

Guenther Steiner has claimed that Max Verstappen “absolutely” regrets not accepting previous offers to join Mercedes, and that the opportunity for the four-time world champion to switch to the Brackley outfit has passed him by entirely.

Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, the former Haas team principal explained that the timing of Mercedes’ pursuit of Verstappen coincided with the team’s negotiations to sign George Russell. “At the time, all the negotiation was being done with George and Mercedes,” Steiner said. “I think the alternative would have been Max there, and I think Max just wasn’t sure what was happening in the future. And then it got away from him.”

Steiner suggested that contractual complications may also have played a role. “I think the chance would have been then and there, and I don’t know if he could have gone out of the contract that year,” he added.

Verstappen’s future at Red Bull has come under increasing scrutiny following a difficult stretch of races. His frustration was most visible at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, where a rear wing failure caused him to spin into the gravel at Stowe corner — a mechanical issue that echoed a similar problem he had suffered at the Austrian Grand Prix weeks earlier. The incidents prompted a series of pointed messages over team radio.

Despite persistent paddock rumours linking Verstappen to a departure from the Milton Keynes team, Steiner believes the 28-year-old’s options have narrowed significantly. He pointed to Mercedes’ settled driver pairing as the key obstacle, with both Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli expected to remain at the team in 2027 after team principal Toto Wolff recently confirmed his desire to retain the current line-up.

“He was convinced to stay where he is, and he waited until the new regulations came, and now obviously it looks like it’s too late,” Steiner said.

The comments add fresh perspective to one of Formula 1’s most debated what-ifs — whether Verstappen, now navigating a turbulent phase at Red Bull, would be in a stronger position had he taken up Mercedes’ advances when they were on the table.