Guenther Steiner, former team principal of Haas in Formula 1, has expressed his disagreement with the statements made by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who suggested that the organization could help Aston Martin keep Fernando Alonso in competition. This comment arose at a time when the British team is experiencing a difficult start to the 2026 season.
In the lead-up to the Spanish Grand Prix, Ben Sulayem stated that it was «unacceptable» for a champion like Alonso to be away from competition, offering assistance to improve the team’s situation and prevent the driver from retiring. The president remarked: «We cannot allow Fernando to leave simply because of the circumstances.»
Steiner, in an appearance on _The Red Flags Podcast_, responded emphatically to these statements, asserting that «no one deserves to be there» and that drivers must work to earn it. He added that it is Aston Martin’s responsibility to find solutions for their difficult circumstances and that it is not a problem for the federation.
Steiner also referenced other teams facing difficulties, citing Cadillac, which has debuted this season without scoring any points. In this regard, he said: «What should Cadillac say? Oh, we deserve to be better. Do we need help?» Moreover, he expressed that Aston Martin has the ability to help itself and that it is time for them to get to work to improve their on-track performance.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
