Max Verstappen ahead of the Baku GP: Steiner fears a sobering rest of the season

It was one of the most dramatic moments of the 2018 Grand Prix season: of all people, the two Red Bull Racing stars, Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo, collided during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix whilst braking for the first corner.

The Australian Ricciardo wanted to pass the Dutchman from behind, but when Daniel moved to the inside, Max also steered his car in that direction. After the crash, the then Red Bull motorsport adviser Dr Helmut Marko railed: “That showed a lack of common sense and respect.”

Another crash for Max Verstappen came in 2021, when, comfortably in the lead, he was caught out by a puncture to his left-rear tyre on the straight. “Without any warning at all – not a pleasant experience,” as Max later explained. Images went viral of him getting out of the car and kicking the flat tyre in disgust.

At the other end of the spectrum: his first victory in Baku in 2022 and his second win in 2025, this time starting from pole position. Afterwards, Verstappen grinned: “There were people who’d claimed I struggle in Baku. It’s always nice to prove them wrong.”

Speaking about the Baku City Circuit, Max said: “It’s a bit tricky to find the right compromise in the set-up between downforce for the many slow corners and aerodynamic efficiency for the full-throttle sections.”

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In the past seven Grands Prix of 2026, Max Verstappen has crossed the finish line five times – and has been on the podium every time. This makes the prediction by former Haas team principal Günther Steiner all the more astonishing.

Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, the South Tyrolean says: “Max Verstappen won’t win any more races in 2026; Mercedes and McLaren are simply too strong. He’s still Super-Max, but even he can only mask the car’s weaknesses to a limited extent. He’ll secure more podium finishes – I have no doubt about that – but I don’t believe he’ll win any races.”