Jos Verstappen Tells Guenther Steiner "That's Why You're Out of F1" as War of Words Over 2026 Rules Erupts

The simmering tension between Max Verstappen’s camp and former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner finally boiled over on May 30, 2026. What started as a joke on a podcast escalated into a sharp, personal exchange that drew in Verstappen's father, a GT racing teammate, and his current team boss, exposing the raw nerve at the heart of Formula 1's most controversial rule change in decades.

Steiner's Podcast Jab: Hypocrite or Hard Done By?

The flashpoint came after the Canadian Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen secured his first podium of the season with a P3 finish . On the Red Flags podcast, Steiner took aim at the four-time champion's vocal hatred for the 2026 regulations, which Verstappen had previously described as a "joke," "Formula E on steroids," and comparable to "Mario Kart" .

Steiner suggested the criticism wasn't principled but performance-related, jokingly claiming that had Verstappen won in Montreal, he would suddenly have become a big fan of the rules . This was the latest salvo in a months-long critique from the former Haas boss, who had earlier accused Verstappen of "throwing his toys out of the pram" and insisted, "It's not the rules – it's Red Bull" .

"That's Why You're Out of F1"

Jos Verstappen, a former F1 driver himself, saw the comments and responded with a single, devastating line on social media: "That's why you're out of F1" . The remark was a pointed reference to Steiner's departure from Haas, instantly escalating a regulatory debate into a deeply personal family-versus-former-boss grudge match .

The counterattack immediately spread across F1 media. The narrative shifted from whether Verstappen was moaning to whether Steiner had lost the right to comment from the sidelines. The public, one-line put-down defined the feud, turning a complex technical argument into a viral soundbite.

The Teammate Joins the Fray: Dani Juncadella's Defense

Jos Verstappen wasn't the only one who felt Steiner had crossed a line. Max's GT racing teammate, Dani Juncadella, also jumped to his defense. Juncadella publicly rebuked Steiner, arguing that Max's criticism of the 2026 regulations had been consistent since the very first shakedown in Barcelona and wasn't dependent on weekend results . His intervention added another powerful voice from inside Verstappen's inner circle, reinforcing the message that Steiner's accusation of hypocrisy was off the mark .

The Real Enemy: F1's Problematic 2026 Power Units

The personal attacks are a symptom of a much deeper crisis within Formula 1. The core frustration for drivers is the 2026 regulation overhaul, which introduced a near-50:50 power split between the internal combustion engine (ICE) and the electrical elements . This balance has forced drivers into extreme energy management tactics, including heavy "lift and coast" driving and "super-clipping," where cars lose power dramatically at the end of straights as the battery depletes .

Following months of driver complaints, the FIA agreed in principle in early May 2026 to fast-track a significant hardware change: shifting the power split to a 60:40 ratio in favor of the combustion engine for the 2027 season . The proposed change would increase ICE power by approximately 50kW (67bhp) to reduce the reliance on battery management and allow cars to be driven more aggressively .

However, the fix requires a supermajority approval from the five power unit manufacturers on the Power Unit Advisory Committee (Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda, Audi, and Red Bull Ford) . The deal has hit significant opposition. Ahead of the Canadian GP, reports emerged that multiple manufacturers were siding against it, with Audi and Ferrari notably opposed to the change, leaving the 2027 rules in a dangerous state of limbo .

Red Bull's Defense: Mekies on Passion, Not Petulance

Amid the war of words, Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has emerged as a consistent and vocal defender of his star driver. Mekies has argued that Verstappen's criticisms are not borne of frustration with losing but from a genuine, deep love for Formula 1 and a desire to see it remain the pinnacle of motorsport . He insists Verstappen is "fully committed" to the team and "as focused and precise as ever," dismissing any rumors of an early retirement .

Mekies remains optimistic that a solution will be found to keep Verstappen in F1 beyond his current contract, stating he is confident the manufacturers will come together for the good of the sport . Whether that optimism is enough to placate a four-time champion who has threatened to leave the sport entirely if the racing isn't fixed remains one of the central questions hanging over the 2026 season .