Steiner fined for Russia radio outburst
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Haas Formula 1 chief Gunther Steiner has been fined €7,500 for his outburst against one of the FIA race stewards following the Russian Grand Prix.Steiner was summoned ahead of this weekend’s race in Japan after hitting out at one of the stewards when Haas driver Kevin Magnussen received a five-second time penalty for cutting a corner and allegedly gaining an advantage.The FIA stated that Steiner said: “If we didn’t have a stupid idiotic steward we would be eighth. You know who is the Steward. You know him. It is always the same. He just does not get any more intelligent.”The FIA called for Steiner in Japan due to a potential conflict as Gerd Ennser was part of the stewards’ panel in Russia and is serving once again this weekend at Suzuka. Steiner clarified during his hearing that his comments were targeted against only one steward in Russia, and had no objections against the panel being used in Japan, implying Ennser was therefore not who he was referring to.”During the hearing Mr. Steiner said that his radio transmission happened in the heat of the moment after a hotly contested race by his drivers,” the statement from the FIA reads. “In retrospect, he regretted his choice of words used at the time. He did not intend for his words to reflect unfavourably on the FIA officials of the event and the championship.”Nevertheless, the affected radio communication as transmitted at the time is an insult to the Stewards of the event and calls into question both the skills and the integrity of those Stewards. Such statements harm the reputation of motorsport in general, the FIA in particular, and call into question the professionalism of the officials of the FIA.”While any factual criticism of Steward panel decisions is always welcomed in private discussions with that panel, public personal attacks against individual officials are totally inappropriate and will not be accepted.”As a result, the stewards opted to fine Steiner €7,500.”Since no penalties have been imposed on Mr. Steiner for similar behaviour in the past, a fine of the amount imposed is considered appropriate,” they added. “However, in the event of future violations, it may become necessary to consider whether a team should be penalized, along with any individual involved, with harsher sanctions.”
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