“These comments, they are not constructive,” Guenther Steiner slams Michael Andretti for calling F1 an ‘Europen Club’
Follow Us
Guenther Steiner
Guenther Steiner the Haas team Principal is not happy with what Michael Andretti has said about Formula One and believes that he should reconsider before saying things in the media.
Michael Andretti deemed F1 a ‘European Club’ and Steiner who has been associated with the sport for a number of years feels Andretti could have been more constructive with his choice of words.
The Andretti group is trying their best to get on the F1 grid by the start of the 2024 season but F1 is taking things slow and this has started to get on the nerves of Michael Andretti.
Michael Andretti is the son of the 1978 F1 World Champion, Mario, and he has in blatant terms criticized the teams on the current grid for being what he described as a European Club.
While talking about F1, Andretti has said, “It was a definite European club [in 1993].”
“And I’m getting the feeling it’s still the European club, the way we’re being treated. Because we would be a threat. The first real international team.”
“It’s a very snobbish approach they’re taking. Ultimately, we’re going to bring more value than we’re going to take away.”
Haas is an American Formula One team who has got its main base of operation in Kannapolis, North Carolina and Andretti’s comments about F1 being a Europen Club have really touched a nerve with Steiner and thus has described his comments as non-constructive.
Guenther Steiner has elaborated on the comments of Michael Andretti
Guenther Steiner is immensely popular in Formula One for his unpredictable and brash nature and Andretti’s comments have not sat well with the 59-year-old.
While stressing about Andretti’s comments Steiner has said, “I don’t know what he’s trying to achieve with these comments but that’s down to Michael,” the Italian-American said at the press conference during the Austrian Grand Prix.”
“It’s not really our decision to give him a license or not, you know. We have got an opinion but I don’t think we can decide that one.”
“So we don’t know what he presented or I don’t know why – I shouldn’t speak for other people – I don’t know what he presented to FIA and FOM (Formula One Management) so I have no idea. Obviously, in my opinion, these comments, they’re not constructive, or, you know, taking forward but you live by your choices.”
During Guenther Steiner’s interview, Mattia Binotto and Toto Wolff were sitting alongside him, and the duo agreed with his assessment of Andretti’s comments.
“I never met Michael myself so I don’t know what it’s about,” Binotto said. “So are we supportive or not? I cannot comment because I never had a discussion. So I don’t know what they’re presenting. I don’t know what they’re looking for. And as Gunther said I think it’s not down to us to decide whether the extra license…“
The Andretti family saga has just started and given the verbal fireworks that it has already produced, it is going to stretch for the whole of the 2022 season, it will be fascinating to see what the ultimate outcome will be for the Andretti group.
Michael Andretti is hell-bent on getting into Formula One but the way things are going, it seems the F1 is not very keen on adding another team on the grid, moreover, there is still plenty of time till 2024 and this could probably be one of the reasons why F1 is taking things slow with the plea of Michael Andretti.
Stay Updated!
Rishabh Negi
(3244 Articles Published)