The FIA acquitted Gunter Steiner of two counts and found him guilty of a third offence. The Haas team boss slipped away cautiously.
Haas team principal Guenter Steiner was recalled by the FIA on Saturday from the Spanish Grand Prix due to his statement at Thursday’s press conference. Italy’s Nico Hulkenberg blasted the federation’s competition tribunal over his time penalty in Monaco last week and said it was time for F1 to hire permanent professional judges rather than the current laypeople.
The FIA accused Steiner, who appeared before the judges between the third free practice and qualifying practice, of breaching three points of the International Sport Code, which contained breaches of FIA personnel and expressions harmful to the reputation of the federation and qualifying practice. sports. The panel also (temporarily) included a judge who served in Monaco last week.
The Italian was acquitted of violating points 12.2.1.c) and 12.2.1.f) of the Code of Sport, but found guilty of violating point 12.2.1.k). Steiner received an official warning.
The relevant policy provision prohibits the use of potentially offensive, offensive or objectionable language. The FIA has found that the term “ordinary person” is.
Mr. Steiner’s words, ‘the average person’ and references to other sports that employ professional staff could be offensive, and in our opinion he offended not only the Monaco judges, but also other FIA personnel, and the many volunteers with whom they work in motorsport. “
– wrote the FIA in its justification.
Steiner emphasized at the hearing that by professional he meant people who handle their specified work professionally, not just on an occasional basis, and he did not mean that they do their work in an unprofessional manner or that they do not have the appropriate qualifications for it. He. She.
Gunter Steiner (Photo: Haas)Steiner voluntarily apologized to anyone who had offended or misunderstood him, and the judges accepted his apology.
If he wanted to attack or insult someone, Steiner said, he would have used different words. The judges did not argue with that.
“The judges have found that everyone has the right to disagree with court decisions, however, it is important that this disagreement is expressed respectfully.” added the FIA.
This isn’t the first time Steiner has been in a similar situation. At the 2019 Russian Grand Prix, he “fooled” the judges on the team radio, who punished rival Kevin Magnussen. Then he had to pay a fine.
