Günther Steiner criticises the FIA for prolonging the controversy around Max Verstappen’s swearing, urging them to let it go.
Günther Steiner doesn’t understand why the FIA and its president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, are so focused on revisiting the issue of Max Verstappen’s swearing. According to the former Haas F1 team principal, this is the best way to prolong a controversy that would have naturally faded away.
“We’re discussing something that shouldn’t even be discussed. There’s no point talking about it,” Steiner notes. “Max swore in that situation, he made a comment about his car. Is it right? No. Is it wrong? No. He just used the terminology he chose to use. It’s not a big deal.”
“But the more you talk about it, the more you create controversy. More people will talk about it. I think if you don’t want this to happen, what I would do is hold driver meetings,” Steiner suggests to Ben Sulayem.
“At every race, there are the 20 drivers, and you go in and say, ‘Guys, I have a request. Can you help me? I’m the president.’ I’m not, but maybe one day I will be. And I would ask, ‘Can we tone down the swearing a bit, guys, please?’”
“It’s hard for a race driver sitting in a car, doing 350/360 km/h, and someone cuts you off, you say something in the heat of the moment. You don’t think when you say ‘F idiot.’ You don’t really mean they’re an idiot, and anyway, the TV bleeps it out.”
“So, it’s a matter of emotions, emotional people. What are you supposed to say? ‘Oh, my friend, you shouldn’t have done that’? No, you’re not going to say that when your adrenaline is up, and your pulse is at 160. You’re not going to say that.”
“But that’s also what defines us as a sport. We need those inner emotions; otherwise, why would it be interesting? So, I think we’ve overdone it, and we’ve been talking about it far too long now. It’s like someone used the F-word but doesn’t use it anymore.”
“That’s it. Move on. Let’s move on. That’s life. That’s my opinion on the matter. And obviously, Max said he wasn’t going to do the service he was asked to do. So, what’s next? Is he going to jail?”
The Italian was also asked if Verstappen is the best driver on the grid today: “I think he is because he’s young, he’s hungry, he’s a racer, and he’s very talented—all of that combined. But you could say the same about Lewis Hamilton, who’s won seven championships.”
“Lewis, of course, is a fantastic driver, but is he as motivated and hungry as Max? I don’t know, maybe Max will be different in five years. You know, we don’t have the same Max from four or five years ago. Now, he has to be a calculator.”
“I think Lando, in terms of talent, is very similar or identical. But is he as aggressive, as hungry? Would he do the things Max does to win, or not? It’s those small things that make the difference today. So, I think as a complete driver in the moment, Max is certainly, in my opinion, the best.”
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FIA Criticised by Steiner for Extending Swearing Row FIA Criticised by Steiner for Extending Swearing Row
