Guenther Steiner found one F1 driver ‘dull’ to watch last year, ‘not impressive’

Follow us on Google Discover

Guenther Steiner has been grading every Formula 1 driver’s performance during the 2025 season. He only placed two in the top tier – world champion Lando Norris and runner-up Max Verstappen.

At the opposite end of the scale, the former Haas team principal ranked four drivers in the lowest bracket. Steiner was critical of Lance Stroll, who was comprehensively beaten by ageing Aston Martin teammate Fernando Alonso.

Esteban Ocon, one of the drivers for his old team, also failed to meet his expectations. Ocon lost out to rookie Oliver Bearman in all of the most important metrics.

Which drivers can count themselves LUCKY to be on the 2026 F1 grid?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

And then there were the only two drivers who failed to score a point all season – Jack Doohan, who lasted just six races, and Alpine replacement Franco Colapinto.

Guenther Steiner not impressed after watching Franco Colapinto

Alpine were the slowest team on the grid this year, with even experienced race-winner Pierre Gasly only able to finish 18th in the championship. But Gasly still scored 22 points.

Steiner found Colapinto’s season ‘dull’. He only reached Q2 five times and recorded an average finishing position of 16th.

Colapinto had made an exciting breakthrough at Williams in 2024, highlighted by a P8 in just his second race in Azerbaijan, after replacing Logan Sargeant.

But he’s arguably a little fortunate to retain his seat for the 2026 season, particularly after Alpine considered signing Valtteri Bottas.

What would you change on our 2025 F1 tier list?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

“I think we put him there with Jack [in the bottom tier],” Steiner said on the Red Flags podcast. “As much as he impressed me last year, this year was quite a dull year for him.

“Being in a car like an Alpine is difficult. How can you shine, you haven’t got the chance? Pierre didn’t do great. Pierre is quite a good driver.

“For a semi-rookie – he wasn’t a complete rookie – it’s difficult to say something. But we can just judge what we have seen.

“What we have seen is not impressive, to be honest. He will still be in a car next year, and then he can show what he can do.”

Could Christian Horner Alpine deal threaten Franco Colapinto?

Keeping Colapinto is lucrative for Alpine given his network of sponsors in South America. This was a key factor in Flavio Briatore’s driver decision.

However, there could soon be big changes at Enstone. Rumours suggest former Red Bull boss Christian Horner could buy a stake in Alpine.

A serial winner, Horner may hold Colapinto to a higher standard on track and pursue a bigger name to partner Pierre Gasly.

Alpine described Colapinto’s renewal as a ‘multi-year’ agreement, but it’s unclear if he’s guaranteed a seat beyond 2026 without having to hit performance benchmarks.