Too many complaints
The fact that he now works full-time in MotoGP, as owner of the Tech3 team, and that he is mostly involved as a ‘simple’ commentator in Formula 1 does not prevent Gunther Steiner from maintaining his famous frankness. The former Haas team principal, since losing his managerial role in the Circus, has been a leading commentator on the podcast The Red Flags, where he comments on and analyzes the main topics of discussion in F1.
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Recently the Merano manager targeted the reigning Constructors’ World Champion team, McLaren, which he claims complains too much about the problems caused by the Mercedes engine. Since the beginning of the year, the papaya team – along with other Mercedes-powered teams, it must be said – has implied that although they have the same engines as Mercedes, they were not provided by Brixworth with the necessary ‘know-how’ to make the power units work equally well, in addition to the reliability issues of this power unit that have affected Mercedes as well as all customer teams.
Clear message
Without mincing words, Steiner urged McLaren to solve the problem at its root: “They are a car manufacturer; they should build their own engines – Steiner said – because when something goes wrong, they always say: ‘Oh, the engine, now we don’t have the same engine as Mercedes’. They had problems with Renault back then. They had problems with Honda. There is always something. At some point, you have to act like adults and they have enough money“.
“Zak [Brown] is very good at promoting the team, finding sponsors – Steiner added – so take the money, instead of putting it in the bank, and build your own engines. I mean, it would send a message. Also, I think it would be a great thing commercially for their road cars. That’s my opinion, they should try. Red Bull did it and is doing quite well. Audi did it too. They are a car manufacturer; they don’t want to buy a Ferrari engine. They want to be independent, they want to be taken seriously. Of course, building an engine is not easy – Steiner acknowledged – but I think the first obstacle is money and then people, as always when you do something, when you start a business. But at some point, if you are not satisfied with the result, and they are not, you have to roll up your sleeves and do things yourself”.
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