The 2025 Formula 1 season is inexorably approaching and with it the question of which team will have the best car and the best driver pairing. Former team boss Günther Steiner doesn’t know the answer, but he still dared to make a very specific prediction.
If Günther Steiner has his way, the 2025 Formula 1 season will be a lot more exciting than the 24 edition. “It’s very difficult to predict because the four big teams will be very close to each other,” says the South Tyrolean, expecting a thrilling battle between Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes.
What is still clear to Steiner: “My favorite for the world championship is McLaren.” The reigning constructors’ world champion will go into the season much better prepared than in 2024 and also has a “very strong driver pairing,” the former Haas team boss told the “GPBlog” portal.
Nevertheless, the South Tyrolean warns the British team not to rest on their laurels from last season. “It won’t be a walk in the park. If they make any mistakes or hesitate to make decisions, it will go like last year,” he said, referring to Lando Norris’ missed driver’s title, who ended up winning it despite a faster car no longer managed to catch Max Verstappen. Steiner’s clear message: “You have to have more self-confidence in what you do.”
“You never know with Ferrari”
According to Steiner, Ferrari will also play a big role in the World Cup fight. But he also sees some question marks with the Reds. “At Ferrari you never know how good the car is. That’s always the biggest question. But I think they developed well, especially towards the end of last year, and made the right decisions.”
The arrival of Lewis Hamilton also sharpened the antennas in Maranello once again. “So I think they’ll be strong.”
Mercedes and Red Bull? Steiner has doubts
Steiner doesn’t believe whether this will also be the case at Mercedes. At least he has his doubts about the Silver Arrows.
“Last year they had some very good races, but also some very bad ones. I would be their driver pairing [unter den Top-Teams] Don’t call it the worst, but it is the biggest unknown.” The main reason for this assessment is new signing Kimi Antonelli. “He is 18 years old and has never driven in Formula 1 before,” said Steiner.
He also has these concerns at Red Bull. Because with Liam Lawson there is also a “newbie” there who still has to prove himself sustainably in Formula 1. “They have Max. Of course that helps because he is the biggest talent at the moment. But their second driver is not at the level of the second drivers at Ferrari or McLaren. They are still weaker there.”
Steiner’s final conclusion: “I think the favorite is McLaren. Behind them is Ferrari and then the other two teams, which I find difficult to assess. They could be very good, but they could also not be.”