GPDA President hits out at FIA for ‘glorifying’ Guenther Steiner’s swearing on Drive to Survive amidst Max Verstappen fiasco
Alexander Wurz criticized the FIA for overlooking Gunther Steiner's language in the past while penalizing Max Verstappen for something similar.
Follow Us
Gunther Steiner and Max Verstappen (images via IMAGO)
Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) president Alexander Wurz defended Max Verstappen after his recent outburst during a press conference before the Singapore GP. Verstappen was punished for swearing, which the FIA deemed a violation of their community guidelines. Wurz criticized the FIA for inconsistently enforcing rules, noting that similar language used by Guenther Steiner in the past was celebrated and featured in Drive to Survive.
Alexander Wurz criticized the FIA for imposing a harsh penalty on Max Verstappen, arguing it was too severe compared to past incidents that received little attention. He questioned the governing body’s rationale for punishing the Dutchman while praising Guenther Steiner for similar language during his tenure as Haas’ team principal
Wurz pointed out that the stewards did not impose community service for Steiner during similar situations. This highlighted the inconsistency in the FIA’s enforcement.
One of the questions that comes to mind most often is: How many lifetimes would Guenther Steiner have to do community service, and he was glorified with his F-word in Netflix.
Alexander Wurz told Planetf1.com
Wurz expressed concerns about the message the FIA’s actions are sending, questioning what they aim to prove by imposing such a harsh penalty. He argued that the FIA’s punishment of Verstappen was excessive and unjustified, especially since they overlooked similar past behavior.
So in that respect, you ask yourself, what is really the message, what is behind it? And that is simply too harsh a punishment.
Alexander Wurz added
Lewis Hamilton criticizes FIA president for stereotypical remarks over Max Verstappen fiasco
FIA president Mohammad Ben Sulayem stated that drivers should not swear much on team radios as they’re not rappers, who are known to swear a lot. However, Lewis Hamilton claimed it as a stereotypical reference as most rappers are Black, meaning Sulayem’s comments carried a racial implication.
Hamilton argued that such language supported harmful biases and contributed to misunderstanding and discrimination.
Saying ‘rappers’ is very stereotypical We are not like them’, those are the wrong choice of words. There is a racial element there.
Lewis Hamilton stated
Former F1 driver Martin Brundle also weighed in on the matter, labeling it a “storm in a teacup.” He viewed the issue as minor and overly inflated, suggesting it added unnecessary drama to the world of racing. Brundle emphasized the importance of not wasting time on such detours. Instead, he urged everyone to focus on racing, especially with only six rounds left in the 2024 season.
Stay Updated!
Gaurang Kadam
(535 Articles Published)