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Former Haas team boss Guenther Steiner has expressed concerns that Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile ( FIA) president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is becoming too involved in Formula 1, particularly in light of the recent swearing incident involving Max Verstappen.
In an interview ahead of the Singapore GP, Ben Sulayem indicated he wanted to reduce the amount of foul language broadcast during races, highlighting that drivers should be mindful of their words while racing. Verstappen faced repercussions for using an expletive to describe his car's performance after the Azerbaijan GP, resulting in a mandate to perform "public interest" work instead of receiving a fine.
During a recent episode of the Sky Sports F1 Podcast, Steiner acknowledged his long-standing friendship with Ben Sulayem but suggested that his involvement in day-to-day operations might not be beneficial. "I've known Mohammed for a very long time... but as a president, I think sometimes he gets involved too much into the sport and he doesn't do himself any favours with that."
Steiner emphasized the need for a strong team around the FIA president, pointing out that handling the federation's vast responsibilities requires delegating tasks.
He remarked, "You have to have people who run the organisation because it's a big job being a president of a federation like the FIA... if you get involved in the day-to-day running, I don't think there's the time there to do it at the level it needs to be done."
Reflecting on the incident with Verstappen, Steiner argued that the attention given to the situation was excessive. "Max swore at the situation [in Baku]. He made a comment about his car. Is it right? No. Is it wrong? No... The more you bring it up, the more controversy you create."
He suggested a more collaborative approach for addressing swearing among drivers: "What I would be doing is when there are driver meetings... you go in there and say, 'Hey, guys, I've got one wish, can you help me out here?'"
Steiner also stressed the importance of emotions in sports, stating, "We need emotions in a sport; otherwise, why would it be interesting?" He pointed out that when drivers are in high-pressure situations, their reactions can be instinctive and emotional, adding to the sport's appeal. "When you're sitting in a car... you don't really mean that [what you have said]."
As the season progresses, with six races remaining and the United States Grand Prix approaching, Steiner's views highlight the ongoing dialogue about regulation and the role of emotion in motorsport.
