Former Haas team boss Günther Steiner has shared his views on the ongoing debate about the coarse language used by drivers. Known for his colourful language, it’s unsurprising that the Italian sides with the drivers. “Emotion is part and parcel of the sport,” says Steiner.
Günther Steiner was known for his forthrightness during his days as a Formula 1 team boss. One of his most famous quotes was when he said, after Kevin Magnussen‘s points finish in Bahrain 2022, that he would have ‘f*cked’ the entire paddock for two points the previous year. Steiner later tried to explain that he said ‘hugged’, English for cuddling, instead of the swear word.
Therefore, it’s not a big surprise that Steiner sides with the drivers in the ongoing debate about swearing in Formula 1. “Is swearing good? No. Is it as bad as it’s made out to be? Also no,” the former team boss tells The Race.
Addressing the Issue
According to Steiner, the FIA, which announced in January that it would be stricter in penalizing the use of profanity, should have handled the situation differently. “Sit down with the drivers, they’re all adults, and ask them: ‘Guys, please refrain from using profanity during press conferences or live interviews’.”
Steiner agrees that swearing on the track is part of the sport. “Imagine yourself in a race car. You’re going 300 km/h and someone cuts you off. What are you going to say? You’re full of adrenaline, and you’re not going to say: ‘Hey, could you please not do that next time?’,” said the Italian. “It’s an emotional reaction, and emotion is part of the sport. It’s not robots driving the cars, it’s people. They have emotions and they express them.”
