The former Haas team principal believes the FIA should have handled this differently.
Guenther Steiner, the former Haas team principal who rose to fame due to his colourful personality on Drive to Survive, has commented on the recent crackdown on verbal misconduct by the FIA. This includes swearing – something the Italian knows a thing or two about.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem kicked up a storm when he changed the International Sporting Code around the use of language, something that George Russell has recently labelled as being “unnecessary.” These new rules bring new penalties, including fines of up to €40,000, or even an eventual race ban – something that could have a substantial effect on drivers’ points haul over a season.
With Steiner now sat outside of the sport looking in after being replaced by Ayao Komatsu at the American outfit, he has shared his thoughts on the controversial changes.
“I think it’s a too big thing made out of what it is,” he said during the Adelaide Motorsport Festival. “I think it’s a too big thing made out of what it is.”
Steiner believes this news may have been blown out of proportion.
“I think it’s a too big thing made out of what it is. Is swearing good? Maybe not. Is swearing bad? Maybe not. It depends all on the circumstances it’s done.
“In any sport, especially in motor racing, adrenalin is high. You’re going high speeds and if somebody cuts you off, if you tell him to ‘go in the place’, it’s pretty OK to say it.
“Because, do you want [them] to say, politely, ‘hey, can you please do this different next time?’ You’re not going to say that one. I think it could have been managed a lot better, not giving big fines. I’m not saying everybody should swear like sailors, basically, but now everyone speaks about it.
“If it’d been handled differently, like sitting the drivers down and saying, ‘hey guys, turn it down a notch here’, it would be cool, everyone would be happy. I think sports live from emotion and sometimes the odd ‘f-word’, it is emotion.”
This sentiment mirrors Russell’s comments:
“There’s times and a place. You have to ensure that our emotions stay real and true, especially when it comes to the (in-car) radio, and potentially an interview straight after the race. That’s what’s so pure about it.
“If you’re talking on a Thursday afternoon in front of a number of people, maybe swearing is not really necessary or required. But when it comes to that raw emotion, you need to let us be as authentic as possible.”
Steiner returned to his role in Season 7 of Drive to Survive. It is available to stream now on Netflix.
