'Terrifying' Max Verstappen momentum assessed as Red Bull strengthen

Guenther Steiner believes Max Verstappen's championship rivals are not terrified by the four-time world champion's recent run of form, but rather surprised at how quickly Red Bull have turned their season around.

Verstappen produced a dominant win in Singapore last time out, leading home Charles Leclerc by over seven seconds and setting the fastest lap along the way. 

It continued a strong recent run for Red Bull, who have now won back-to-back races, but the Dutchman still sits fourth in the drivers' standings on 221 points, some 119 adrift of championship leader Kimi Antonelli with six rounds remaining.

Asked whether that run of form has rattled the opposition, Steiner gave a nuanced answer on the Red Flags podcast.

"I think they're terrified that Max wins races, but I think in the championship they are not terrified anymore," said the former Haas boss.

"Yeah, you're terrified not to finish second [in the championship], but nobody really cares about that one anyway, except the the guy which finishes second. But nobody's terrified. 

"Everybody, I think more than terrified, it's surprised how they turned it around, but it's not the first time. The race before was good, but this one it was just like dominant."

Guenther Steiner urges against early 2027 predictions

With the gap to Antonelli effectively putting the title out of reach, attention has already started drifting towards how Red Bull might fare  in 2027. 

Steiner, however, was quick to pump the brakes on any long-range projection.

"Absolutely, and let's finish this year before we start to think about next year," he said, discussing Red Bull's current momentum.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, I think we've got six more races to go, they will be very interesting."