Guenther Steiner, former director of the Haas Formula 1 team, has expressed his disapproval of the claims made by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who suggested that the governing body could help Aston Martin retain Fernando Alonso.
With the 2026 season marked by the failures of the British team, Ben Sulayem stated that it is unacceptable for a two-time world champion like Alonso to be struggling for competitiveness. He expressed his commitment to improving the team’s situation to prevent the Spaniard from considering retirement.
In his words, Ben Sulayem insisted that «a great champion like Fernando cannot be allowed to leave due to performance circumstances» and that he planned to speak with him to understand his needs and how the FIA could help improve results.
Steiner, in an appearance on _The Red Flags_ podcast, criticized these ideas, arguing that no one has a guaranteed right to be competitive in a sport. «No one deserves to be at this level, you have to work to earn your place,» he stated.
He also pointed out that the Aston Martin team must resolve its own issues and that it is not the FIA’s responsibility. He referred to the challenges faced by other teams, such as Cadillac, which have recently joined the grid and have not yet scored points.
With Alonso’s contract with Aston Martin set to expire at the end of this season, rumors about a possible move to the Alpine team or retirement have resurfaced, adding more pressure on the team and its management.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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