Günther Steiner, the eccentric former team boss, recently released a new book, following the success of Surviving to Drive. In Unfiltered, he once again provides a behind-the-scenes look at Formula 1. The Italian engineer discusses, among other things, the infamous 2021 Abu Dhabi GP and asserts that under a different race director, Lewis Hamilton would have become an eight-time world champion.
During his tenure as the team boss of the Haas Formula 1 team from 2016 to 2023, Günther Steiner frequently clashed with the FIA stewards. Steiner, known for his coarse language and candid opinions, writes in Unfiltered about how he gradually lost faith in the organization’s administration.
‘Bizarre Display’
“After the death of Charlie Whiting (former race director) in 2019, the governing body lost its sense of responsibility and humility,” says Günther Steiner. “That’s not a good situation.” He cites the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi GP as an example. Race Director Michael Masi decided there should be a last-minute restart, resulting in Lewis Hamilton losing the championship to Max Verstappen.
“Regardless of who you support, even though it was great entertainment, from a regulatory standpoint, it was a bizarrely poor display,” says Günther Steiner. “It doesn’t matter what Charlie Whiting would have done in this situation; there would have been less controversy and embarrassment anyway. Well, it doesn’t matter. We all know what Whiting would have done: if he had been in charge, Hamilton would now be an eight-time world champion.”
