Haas team boss Guenther Steiner has been fined 7,500 Euros for his radio outburst aimed at a Formula 1 steward in Sochi.
The fiery Italian was livid after his driver Kevin Magnussen was given a five-second penalty for cutting the inside of Turn 2 while battling Sergio Perez.
Though the Dane himself was furious, calling the decision “bulls**t”, Steiner went further appearing to single out one of those on the stewarding panel.
“If we didn’t have a stupid idiotic steward we would be eighth,” the FIA reported the radio message as saying. “You know who is the steward, you know him? It is always the same, he just does not get any more intelligent.”
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Steiner was called to meet the stewards in Japan, to clarify if that steward was Gerd Ennser, who along with FIA race director Michael Masi, is the only member of the Sochi panel also at Suzuka.
However, the Haas chief said that was not the case.
“During the hearing, Mr Steiner said that his radio transmission happened in the heat of the moment after a hotly contested race by his drivers,” a statement from the FIA read.
“In retrospect, he regretted his choice of words used at the time. He did not intend for his words to reflect unfavourably on the FIA officials of the event and the championship.
“Nevertheless, the affected radio communication as transmitted at the time is an insult to the Stewards of the event and calls into question both the skills and the integrity of those stewards,” their ruling continued.
“Such statements harm the reputation of motorsport in general, the FIA in particular, and call into question the professionalism of the officials of the FIA.
“While any factual criticism of steward panel decisions is always welcomed in private discussions with that panel, public personal attacks against individual officials are totally inappropriate and will not be accepted.”
Before the weekend, it was suggested that the Haas boss could face a paddock ban or worse, the American outfit could be docked points in the Constructors’ standings.
Instead, only the 7,500 Euros fine was given.
“Since no penalties have been imposed on Mr Steiner for similar behaviour in the past, a fine of the amount imposed is considered appropriate,” the FIA said.
“However, in the event of future violations, it may become necessary to consider whether a team should be penalized, along with any individual involved, with harsher sanctions.”