Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has named his dream Formula 1 line-up and it’s a pairing that combines established dominance with emerging brilliance.
Speaking to the Lottoland media team, Steiner revealed that if given the chance to assemble his ultimate team, he would choose reigning four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen alongside Sauber rookie, rising Brazilian star Gabriel Bortoleto.
Steiner said: “I would take Max Verstappen for sure. And I always said before I would take Oscar Piastri. But I think now I would take one of the rookies, Gabriel Bortoleto. I would take Max and Gabriel."
He added that his ideal operation would be based around Mercedes' infrastructure, with Adrian Newey leading car design: “He would need some people around him, but we could find them afterwards. I think that would be quite a successful team. And me as team principal, obviously!” The 60-year-old Italian added.
Steiner’s endorsement reinforces Verstappen’s standing as the benchmark modern Formula 1 driver. The Red Bull ace has combined relentless pace with remarkable mental composure, sustaining title contention against McLaren’s near dominance this season.
Despite Red Bull’s internal turbulence earlier in the year, Verstappen’s performances have remained unshaken, a quality Steiner clearly admires. The Dutchman’s precision under pressure, strategic intelligence, and ability to dominate varying conditions have kept him firmly at the centre of Formula 1’s competitive landscape.
Steiner: For me, the 2025 F1 rules change is good
Even amid regulation uncertainty ahead of 2026, Steiner believes Verstappen’s adaptability would anchor any top-tier team: “The aerodynamic rules, the chassis rules are changing, the cars get smaller and get completely different new power units.
"In the beginning, there will be some outliers being very fast cars, and maybe somebody will get it completely wrong. I think for me change is good, because people then reinvent themselves, put a lot of effort in, and it keeps it interesting.”
For Bortoleto, Steiner’s selection is a major nod of confidence. The Brazilian rookie is impressing with consistent racecraft and maturity beyond his years. His composure in close-quarters racing and the destruction of veteran teammate Nico Hulkenberg in the sister Sauber have drawn comparisons with Verstappen’s early F1 traits.
Reflecting on his own future, Steiner said: “I am very happy not to run a team at the moment, because it is something I have done. If the opportunity comes, if there is a project out there, I would be interested. But just to go to Formula 1 to do a job as a team principal, I am not interested. I would rather do what I do now, go to half the races.”
His dream pairing of buddies Verstappen and Bortoleto, one the master of modern Formula 1, the other its most promising apprentice, neatly captures Steiner’s belief in racing’s balance of experience and youth.
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