Former Haas team chief Guenther Steiner has revealed that the American outfit banned him from visiting the stewards to discuss driver penalties because his meetings often led to fines and more penalties.
Steiner, who is known for his blunt approach and colourful language, which were partly behind his popularity on Netflix's Drive to Survive, joked about not being allowed to see the stewards during an appearance on The Red Flags Podcast while discussing Oscar Piastri's Brazilian Grand Prix penalty.
While arguing that McLaren should have fought Piastri's corner more following a 10-second penalty and two penalty points imposed on the Australian driver, Steiner was asked if he would have visited the stewards if Kevin Magnussen had been in the same situation when he was leading Haas.
"I would not only in the moment at the end of the race, I would have gone to the stewards, and you know at some stage the team didn't let me go to the stewards anymore. They said, 'Guenther, you're not allowed to go' because I got penalties and I had to pay fines.
"They all told me your opinion doesn't help and how you speak with the people but in the end if they are doing something which I think is wrong, I need to tell them, and they are just like 'No, we think we are right'. And if you get all this bo****ks as you normally get there.
"It's not an easy job, and I would never want to be a steward, especially working for free, but anyway, leave the money aside because that is a small element of it. But it's just no, I would have gone there, and I think I would have flipped out."
Steiner led Haas from its debut on the Formula 1 grid in 2016 until the end of the 2023 season. He was replaced by trackside engineering director Ayao Komatsu at the start of 2024. Following his exit, the 60-year-old has become a regular feature on The Red Flags Podcast, has appeared as a specialist commentator on German television channel RTL and has taken a role as race ambassador for the Miami Grand Prix.
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