Guenther Steiner, the team principal of Haas, was called to appear before the stewards in Barcelona on allegations of bringing the sport into disrepute due to his strong criticism of the stewarding system.
Steiner’s outburst followed Nico Hulkenberg’s penalty in Monaco, where he referred to the officials as “laymen” who lacked the authority to decide the fate of individuals who invest millions in their racing careers.
“Race steward is not even a job,” Steiner told Sky Deutschland, “because you can get fired from a job that you get paid for.”
The outcome of Steiner’s hearing in Barcelona has yet to be determined.
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Meanwhile, other team bosses were cautious when approached for comment on the matter, preferring to leave the decision to the FIA. Aston Martin’s Mike Krack stated,
“I would like to leave this for the FIA to decide,” while McLaren boss Andrea Stella added, “Same. We trust the FIA. Right?” Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack said.
“Same. We trust the FIA. Right?” McLaren boss Andrea Stella added
Even Ralf Schumacher, the uncle of Mick Schumacher, who was previously criticised and sacked by Haas, came to Steiner’s defense.
“The demand for more consistency has come up more and more often,” Schumacher said in Barcelona.
“Now, of course, it is very important how he (Steiner) articulated that. We all know Gunther Steiner.
“But other than that, I’m more with him than not on that one.”
Schumacher emphasised the importance of open and honest dialogue, stating that the desire for a stable panel of professional stewards throughout the season should be considered.
He expressed concern that without such discussions, it could feel like a restrictive environment where individuals fear immediate punishment for expressing their views.
“What bothers me a bit is that I do think we can be open and honest with one another,” Schumacher said.
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“The desire to use professional stewards, the idea that we have the same ones all year round, that discussion should be allowed.
“Otherwise it feels a bit like a police state where you can’t say anything because otherwise you’ll be punished immediately.”
Steiner’s central argument revolves around the need for a paid, professional, full-time steward panel to replace the current system. While his comments are being investigated, the debate on the structure of the steward system continues to generate interest within the Formula 1 community.