Haas boss Guenther Steiner has been reprimanded for comments made about stewards in the aftermath of Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix.
Steiner was angered by a penalty incurred by Nico Hulkenberg at the start of last Sunday’s race in Monaco.
Addressing the media on Thursday Steiner referred to the stewards as “laymen” and this was picked up by stewards, who requested a meeting, amid a potential breach of the International Sporting Code.
The stewards in Spain – a different panel to those from Monaco after Felix Holter recused himself – deemed that Steiner’s use of “laymen” and referencing other sports having “professional” personnel could be perceived to cause offence to the Monaco stewards, as well as other FIA personnel and other motorsport volunteers.
Stewards accepted Steiner’s statement during the hearing that his reference to professionalism meant those who worked in a role as their profession, and not that the stewards were acting unprofessionally.
The Haas boss also stated that his reference to ‘laymen’ was meant to refer to people who worked occasionally and not as a lack of qualification or specialisation for a role.
Stewards also accepted that “if [Steiner] had meant to insult or offend anyone he would have used much different words.”
Steiner also provided an apology which was accepted by the stewards.
“Yesterday (Saturday June 3) I attended a Stewards Hearing concerning comments I made during my press conference last Thursday (June 1),” read Steiner’s message.
“I expressed to the Stewards my disappointment and disagreement with the decision taken by the Monaco Stewards last weekend. The Stewards informed me that they had no issue with people disagreeing with decisions but were more concerned about the interpretation that had been placed on some of my comments.
“I explained to the stewards that I had not intended to offend anyone and that my use of certain words could have been open to misinterpretation or misunderstood by some people.
“I told the Stewards that I apologized if my statements were misunderstood or caused hurt to anyone as that was not my intention. I repeat that apology here.”
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