Guenther Steiner claims FIA stewards are scared of penalising Max Verstappen

Four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton battled for the final podium spot in the early laps at the 2025 Mexican GP. The two former championship rivals made contact, and the battle involved the duo cutting corners. While Hamilton was given a penalty for his off-track excursion, Verstappen was not, and Guenther Steiner came out claiming that the FIA stewards are scared of penalizing the Dutchman.

Lewis Hamilton started P3 and Max Verstappen started P4. However, on the opening lap, Verstappen was able to make up a position and started chasing the seven-time F1 champion for P3. Just a few laps later, the Red Bull driver made an ambitious move into Turn 1 after the long straight at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

As the Dutchman went down the inside, he touched wheels with the Ferrari driver, pushing Hamilton off the line. As the duo went side by side into Turn 2, Verstappen was pushed out and cut the second corner. The battle continued into Turn 4, where the Ferrari driver was on the outside, locked up his tires, and had to cut the corner.

All this while George Russell and Oliver Bearman caught up to the duo. However, as Hamilton cut the corner, he came out ahead of this battle, and was noted by the FIA for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. He was slammed with a 10-second penalty for the same.

Former F1 Boss Guenther Steiner came out on the latest episode of the Red Flags podcast and suggested that the FIA stewards are scared to give Max Verstappen a penalty. The Dutchman cut the first turn on the opening lap and maintained the position, followed by cutting the corner when battling with Hamilton, but wasn't given any penalties.

“I don't think it has to do with leading the charge, because Max, you know, if he thinks he was treated unfair, he's very vocal, and maybe they are more worried about that one than anything else,” said Steiner (29:00 onwards) “I see, so Max has created a culture where people are very scared and hesitant to throw a penalty on him ever,” added the host “Of the goat in there in the moment, you know? And that comes with the status of the goat. He has got a louder voice. You know, if you are on top, your voice is here a lot more than when you are second last, you know?” added Steiner

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“Should have been a penalty”: F1 pundit’s verdict on Max Verstappen's off-track excursion on Lap 1

Max Verstappen started P5 but got a great start off the line and went four wide into the first corner with Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, and Lando Norris. The Dutchman was on the kerb when he started braking, and as a result, couldn't make the corner, went deep, and cut the first sequence of corners.

F1 pundit Martin Brundle came out after the race and suggested that the Red Bull driver deserved a penalty for the same reason, as he said,

“Max should have had a penalty, because if you put your car on the far-left and four abreast, it will go on the kerb. You can see Max actually accelerate – really skilful driving through the grass, I must say, but Max made no effort whatsoever to take Turns 1, 2 or 3. And that should have been a penalty.” (via the F1 show podcast)

Max Verstappen go into the last four races with a 36-point gap to championship leader Lando Norris.

Edited by Pranay Bhagi