Daily News 19

Tag: says Guenther Steiner

  • Fernando Alonso “saved” Aston Martin After Difficult Dutch GP Weekend, Says Guenther Steiner

    Fernando Alonso “saved” Aston Martin After Difficult Dutch GP Weekend, Says Guenther Steiner

    Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes Fernando Alonso was solely responsible for Aston Martin’s points finish at the Dutch Grand Prix.

    Aston Martin arrived at Zandvoort with a highly anticipated power-unit upgrade from engine partner Honda, following the introduction of a B-spec car at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

    However, the upgrades did not immediately deliver a clear improvement. Lance Stroll and Alonso finished 17th and 18th respectively in the sprint, before qualifying 18th and 19th for the Dutch Grand Prix.

    Stroll retired after suffering damage during a chaotic opening lap in which Max Verstappen crashed. Alonso, meanwhile, used an aggressive one-stop strategy to finish ninth and secure two valuable points for Aston Martin, tripling the team’s season tally.

    Steiner credits Alonso for Aston Martin points

    Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner suggested that the result owed more to the two-time world champion’s performance than to Aston Martin’s upgraded car.

    “After what I saw on Friday and Saturday in sprint qualifying and the sprint, I was like, ‘Wow, I think we overreacted a little bit to their resurgence.’ And then also the qualifying on Saturday for the race, like, ‘Wow, this is not going the right way,’” Steiner explained.

    “This was a Fernando special here, doing it with one stop. That saved them. He could keep a decent pace, and what helps them at the moment is that there are really now three backmarker teams, which are far off everyone.”

    Aston Martin is currently 10th in the constructors’ championship with three points, all scored by Alonso. The Spaniard sits 19th in the drivers’ standings.

    Alonso says Aston Martin and Honda need more time

    Alonso praised Aston Martin’s upgrades after the race but acknowledged that the team and Honda still need time to fine-tune the changes.

    “In general, we’re still not in the place we want to be in terms of driveability. The downshifts and engine braking seem a little bit random, corner by corner,” the Spaniard told Sky Sports F1. “So we still need to fine-tune it and, with the deficit on power, we still lose a lot on the straights. So now that we are more or less competitive in the corners, we need to improve that. But we are trying to do all this together. “We need to give time to Honda as well to figure out what the problem is and where to fix it. So I’m happy, I’m relaxed. I trust both Silverstone and Sakura.”

    Source: www.motorsport.com

  • Lewis Hamilton “Didn’t Help Himself” With Ferrari Radio Messages, Says Guenther Steiner

    Lewis Hamilton “Didn’t Help Himself” With Ferrari Radio Messages, Says Guenther Steiner

    Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner believes Lewis Hamilton made Ferrari’s Dutch Grand Prix tensions worse with his frustrated team radio messages.

    The seven-time world champion repeatedly questioned Ferrari’s strategy during the race at Zandvoort, urging the Maranello team to let him pass team-mate Charles Leclerc, who was running a different strategy. When Ferrari eventually brought Leclerc into the pits, Hamilton complained that the team had lost too much time.

    Hamilton later sarcastically asked whether Ferrari was using him as a “guinea pig” after leaving him on old hard tyres.

    Steiner compares Ferrari and Mercedes strategy planning

    Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner compared Ferrari’s handling of team orders with Mercedes’ preparation and said Ferrari had not organised the situation as effectively.

    “Obviously, it was not as well organised as the silver people. They were well organised,” Steiner said during an appearance on The Red Flags Podcast, comparing Mercedes and Ferrari.

    “They had the discussion before and obviously that discussion was not as heated as that one after for Ferrari because when you go into the drivers before the race and tell them what is what.”

    Steiner said Ferrari’s pre-race discussions should have been more detailed.

    “I think that one was not done in the detail Mercedes stated, and that caused what happened.”

    Hamilton criticised for Ferrari team radio messages

    Although Steiner argued that Ferrari could have prepared its drivers more thoroughly for possible team-order scenarios, he also said Hamilton’s criticism of the team was counterproductive.

    “I don’t think Lewis helped himself being so critical because when you’re sitting on the pitwall  and you hear that, it’s like, ‘Oh this guy’s actually trying to vouch too much for himself. He doesn’t see the team anymore here.’

    “You could say, ‘Hey, would it not be better if he lets me pass, I’m faster,’ instead of saying, ‘Oh you made me lose time here.’”

    Hamilton later addressed his Dutch Grand Prix team radio comments on social media, accepting responsibility for his frustrated reaction.

    “I’ve listened back to some of my radio and TV comments. In the heat of the moment, frustration can come out, especially when you care as deeply as I do,” he posted on Instagram.

    “But that wasn’t the best version of me. I take responsibility for that, and I’ll be better. That passion comes from believing in this team, the people in it, and what we’re building together. The direction is clear. The belief is there. And the fight is absolutely still on.”