Verstappen's supporters have responded to Steiner's criticism.

      "I see why you’re no longer an F1 team principal."

      Max Verstappen’s supporters have criticized former Haas team principal Gunther Steiner after he implied that Verstappen’s critique of the 2026 Formula 1 regulations stems from his lack of wins. "If Verstappen had won, he would be very happy, and these would be the greatest regulations ever," Steiner remarked in a quote shared in an article on X. This comment drew a sharp retort from Verstappen's father, Jos. "Hello Gunther," he responded on the platform. "I see why you’re no longer an F1 team principal. The way you speak." Verstappen's GT3 teammate, Dani Juncadella, also chimed in on the criticism. "Guy (Verstappen) has been alerting everyone about the new regulations since 2023, yet the leader of the consortium that bought the Tech 3 MotoGP team thinks he knows better?" he expressed. This back-and-forth occurs during a growing debate around Formula 1’s extensively electrified regulations, with Verstappen repeatedly warning he might consider leaving the sport if the proposed changes for 2027 aren’t approved. However, not everyone aligns with the four-time world champion. Former driver Ralf Schumacher believes Verstappen should clarify his stance about his future. "Today he says, 'No, I’ll be driving for Red Bull in 2027, that’s fine,' and the next day he states, 'If this continues, I don’t want to do this anymore,'" Schumacher told Sky Deutschland. "Sooner or later, he will need to make a definitive choice so the entire team can refocus on the future." Schumacher also observed that Red Bull’s overall performance in Montreal may undermine some of Verstappen’s complaints regarding the RB22. "Red Bull really progressed in Montreal," he noted. "Hadjar performed very well this weekend. That’s significant, by the way." "Verstappen was voicing issues about the car, yet Hadjar was nearly quicker than him. It doesn’t necessarily mean anything, but it's still noteworthy."