Guenther Steiner has famous an issue that can hold Mercedes and Crimson Bull behind F1’s quickest vehicles in 2025.
The previous Haas workforce principal has picked McLaren and Ferrari because the front-runners for the brand new season.
The season-opening F1 Australian Grand Prix is March 14-16, the place every workforce can justify the hype that surrounds them or reply to the critics.
Steiner is satisfied that Mercedes and Crimson Bull is not going to hold tempo with McLaren and Ferrari.
“I see the 4 groups once more shut collectively – final yr, on the finish, it was very shut collectively,” Steiner insisted.
“However my favourites are Ferrari and McLaren, as a result of they had been so sturdy [at the] finish of final yr and I believe they found out what the automotive must be quick.
“Not solely downforce, it is also stability within the automotive, the dealing with, how they handle all that, so I believe they would be the favourites for me.”
Downside posed for Mercedes and Crimson Bull
Steiner recognized the explanation for his daring prediction.
“[McLaren and Ferrari] have the driving force pairing; they each [have] skilled drivers in, whereas Mercedes and Crimson Bull have gotten a rookie every.
“I imply, Liam just isn’t an actual rookie, however he hasn’t performed an entire season.
“It simply makes it troublesome, as a result of a rookie is a rookie – even when they [are] tremendous good, he nonetheless must be taught loads.
“So I really feel the 2 strongest groups shall be Ferrari and McLaren, and I might say possibly if I would want to choose between the 2 of them, McLaren, as a result of they did a superb job final yr. I believe they had been excellent on the finish of the season.”
Steiner was notoriously vital, when he was Haas workforce boss, of his workforce’s rookie drivers.
Mick Schumacher notably got here underneath scrutiny earlier than he was axed, and Steiner put collectively a driver line-up with way more skilled.
Maybe it’s no shock, then, that he favours groups with expertise behind the wheel.
No one has extra expertise than Lewis Hamilton, the Ferrari newcomer who joins Charles Leclerc at Ferrari.
McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri every gained their first grands prix final yr.
In distinction, Mercedes and Crimson Bull are inserting their religion in youth.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli steps into Hamilton’s footwear at Mercedes. Crimson Bull selected to switch Sergio Perez with Liam Lawson, who has pushed 11 grands prix already for his or her sister workforce.
Steiner predicted: “I believe we are going to see completely different winners this yr – I am fairly certain about that.
“[Will] we see any of the rookies profitable? I believe that is troublesome, however not unimaginable.
“However there shall be a couple of winner this yr – that shall be related [to] final yr.”
