Gunther Steiner, never one to hold back, has slammed the FIA’s potential apology to Max Verstappen, arguing that such a move would expose the organization’s lack of leadership and clarity in its rules. The controversy surrounding drivers’ language over team radios has ignited a fierce debate since the Singapore Grand Prix, with the FIA president even pushing for stricter regulations on such behavior.
The saga began when Verstappen, known for his no-filter approach, used explicit language to describe his car’s performance during a press conference. The outburst didn’t go unnoticed; the FIA slapped him with a punishment that included community service. Verstappen’s response? Complete silence during his next press conferences—a clear message of defiance.
The controversy split the F1 community. While some defended Verstappen’s outburst as part of the sport’s high-pressure environment, others backed the penalty, arguing for a more disciplined image. As the drivers head to Austin for a meeting with the FIA, the tension remains: will the stewards stand firm, or will they buckle under pressure and soften their stance?
Steiner, the former Haas team principal, was blunt in his assessment, insisting that it’s too late for the FIA to backtrack now. “If they apologize, it’s a sign there’s no direction,” he stated emphatically. Steiner suggested that rather than retracting the penalty, the stewards should sit down with Verstappen to find common ground. “I respect Max a lot,” Steiner added, acknowledging the Dutch driver’s fiery nature but hinting that he might be open to a sensible resolution.
He didn’t stop there. Steiner blasted the excessive focus on the swearing incident, claiming that the media and public have blown it out of proportion. “We’ve made the situation worse than the actual swearing itself,” he remarked, criticizing the ongoing media frenzy that has turned a simple slip of the tongue into a scandal. “Do you think children listen to those rumors? It’s not the swear words causing harm; it’s the drama surrounding it.”
Steiner warned that this controversy, now spiraling beyond the initial incident, is damaging Formula 1’s image and undermining the legacy it has built. “What have we created? We’re dragging this out, and it’s showing the sport in a bad light,” he argued. In Steiner’s view, the sport risks tarnishing its reputation over what should have been a minor issue, spotlighting an ongoing debate over whether the FIA’s attempts to control drivers’ behavior are doing more harm than good.
