Guenther Steiner admits he’s got a real ‘issue’ with £2.5m-a-year F1 driver’s attitude

The 2025 Formula 1 season has created a few feisty battles up and down the paddock that should run until the end of the season.

Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris look set to fight it out to win the drivers’ championship, although Max Verstappen can never be discounted despite Red Bull’s deficit to McLaren this season.

Christian Horner has already ruled out winning the constructors’ championship, however, Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes are in a close battle to finish second this year, with Williams already establishing themselves as the best of the rest.

Then there’s this year’s crop of rookies hoping to stand out and earn a second season on the grid in 2026.

Jack Doohan has already lost his seat to Franco Colapinto, while Liam Lawson’s position at Racing Bulls was questioned before his brilliant performance at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Colapinto is among the group of drivers hoping to avoid being the last to get off the mark this season, alongside Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Aston Martin star Fernando Alonso.

However, there are already a few drivers who appeared to be in no man’s land with nothing really on the line this season.

Lance Stroll falls into his category but Guenther Steiner has admitted he’s got an ‘issue’ with the Canadian driver this season.

READ MORE: Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Guenther Steiner says he’s got an ‘issue’ with Lance Stroll’s attitude

Steiner was asked on The Red Flags Podcast to determine whether Stroll isn’t the worst driver on the grid and replied: “I’m thinking, who could be worse?

“I always say, he’s not a bad driver, I’ve got more of an issue with his attitude than with his driving.

“I think it’s an attitude thing, it’s like he doesn’t really seem to enjoy himself or try to give the fans some joy.

“It’s like, I’ve got a s— job, no you have not! I don’t think there is a clear worst driver.

“There is no s— drivers on the track anymore, therefore I don’t know what to say.

“I was thinking about Lawson, but then there’s Monte Carlo, but there is no really bad driver, they’re all pretty good!

“He has no joy, he’s not even funny!”

READ MORE: All to know about Aston Martin F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Lance Stroll needs to bounce back from underwhelming Monaco Grand Prix

Despite Alonso having a superior record in qualifying this season, Stroll, who is on a £2.5m–a-year contract, has currently scored all 14 of Aston Martin’s points in 2025.

He benefited from the chaos in Australia to finish sixth and end a run of 11 Grand Prix without a top-10 finish at the end of last season.

Stroll was then promoted to ninth in China when both Ferrari drivers and Pierre Gasly were disqualified ahead of him. The Canadian then required more penalties and rain to finish fifth in the Sprint Race in Miami.

However, the Monaco Grand Prix was one of several low points for Stroll this year.

He qualified 19th and picked up two grid penalties for impeding while Alonso put his Aston Martin on the third row of the grid.

Nick Heidfeld was far from impressed with Stroll as he never looked capable of challenging for points while an engine failure ruined a fantastic weekend for his teammate.

Fans were unhappy with Stroll’s status on the grid after his crash with Charles Leclerc in FP1 but Adrian Newey has stuck up for Stroll after starting to work with him at Aston Martin.

If the team are as competitive as many hope in 2026, he may have a tougher time justifying his position in the team if they’re suddenly hoping to win races and regularly challenge for podiums.