Guenther Steiner Unleashes Fury on FIA’s Mismanagement During Mexico Grand Prix Chaos
In a fiery outburst that has sent shockwaves through the motorsport community, former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner has taken the FIA to task over its handling of the Mexico Grand Prix, particularly the controversial deployment of the virtual safety car (VSC) and a series of glaring penalties—or the shocking lack thereof. The race, marred by chaos and confusion, has ignited a storm of criticism, prompting Steiner to voice his frustrations on The Red Flags Podcast.
The Mexico Grand Prix kicked off with a tumultuous start, as multiple drivers veered off track, potentially gaining unfair advantages. This chaotic beginning was only exacerbated by alarming footage showing marshals recklessly darting across the live track in front of driver Liam Lawson, an incident that raises serious questions about safety protocols. As if that weren’t enough, the FIA controversially introduced a VSC in the closing laps, leaving fans and teams alike scratching their heads. Many are demanding answers as to why Carlos Sainz’s seemingly harmless car, parked well clear of danger, warranted such drastic measures.
Steiner’s frustration was palpable as he exclaimed, “I mean FIA again, it’s like what is happening? What is happening? I mean again we have this discussion left, right and centre, what is happening?” He expressed disbelief at the inconsistent penalties that left some drivers punished while others were not, calling into question the very integrity of race management. “All the drivers got an opinion now as well, but nothing will change,” he lamented. “Fernando [Alonso] shared his thoughts about the start, and it’s all wide open. I could take a whole podcast segment on the FIA. I’m not critical about the people, but the setup is flawed.”
The FIA’s decision to deploy a VSC just as Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc were locked in a thrilling battle for second place has drawn fierce criticism. While Sainz believed he had parked his car safely, the FIA later claimed that smoke and fire alerts necessitated marshal intervention. Steiner, however, scoffed at the rationale, stating, “Yes, I think there’s no cause for the VSC. The marshals out there scared the out of the race director.”
He speculated that the race director, possibly still reeling from the earlier marshal mishap, overreacted by calling for the VSC. “Carlos did everything right, and he was thinking strategically,” Steiner pointed out. “He deliberately parked out of the way—he’s very smart. But the race director saw a standing car and panicked, influenced by the images of marshals running across the track.”
Steiner called for a reevaluation of the FIA’s procedures, suggesting that double-waved yellow flags would have sufficed to manage the situation effectively. He emphasized the need for permanent stewards to address recurring issues, especially during chaotic race starts. “What would a permanent steward do after this happened twice? They would convene with track officials to eliminate these judgment calls. You cannot cut across anymore,” he stated emphatically.
As the dust settles on this tumultuous race weekend, the motorsport world is left pondering the FIA’s competency and Steiner’s bold assertions. Will the governing body take heed of these criticisms, or will the chaos continue to reign? One thing is for certain: the conversation around race management has only just begun, and the call for accountability has never been louder.
