Guenther Steiner, former director of the Haas Formula 1 team, has defended his stance regarding statements from FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who proposed assistance for Aston Martin in its fight to keep Fernando Alonso in competition.
In the context of a challenging 2026 season for the British team, Ben Sulayem expressed his concern that it is unacceptable for the two-time world champion to be struggling for competitiveness. In remarks prior to the Spanish Grand Prix, he said he does not want Alonso to leave F1 due to his team’s lack of performance.
These statements surprised Steiner, who argued that no one should have anything guaranteed in the world of competition. «No one deserves to be in Formula 1 or anywhere, you need to work to be there,» Steiner stated in an episode of The Red Flags Podcast. He also insisted that the situation of Aston Martin is an internal team matter.
Steiner emphasized that other teams, such as Cadillac, which has debuted this season and has yet to score points, need their own attention. «What should they say? That they deserve to improve and need help? This is a problem each team must solve for itself,» he concluded.
Fernando Alonso, who will finish his contract with Aston Martin at the end of the season, has been at the center of much speculation regarding a possible move to Alpine or even his retirement.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
