(Motorsport-Total.com) – Günther Steiner has sharply criticized the race stewards after the Miami Grand Prix and demands a fixed time limit for decisions on penalties after the race.
After the Grand Prix at the Hard Rock Stadium, several incidents were investigated by the stewards. These included: Max Verstappen for a possible crossing of the white line at the pit exit, a collision between Verstappen and George Russell, as well as another incident between Charles Leclerc and Russell in the last lap.
Leclerc was also investigated because he allegedly left the track multiple times in the final phase and thereby gained an advantage. It was also debated whether his car was in an unsafe condition. Only about two and a half hours after the end of the race did the race management begin making decisions. While most drivers escaped without penalty, Leclerc received a 20-second penalty that dropped him to eighth place.
Steiner demands clear deadlines for race management decisions
Steiner commented critically on this in the Red Flags Podcast: “So I think we have to decide that after the race, but there needs to be a time limit. If you don’t know, then just don’t give a penalty.”
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He adds: “What are they doing during the race? I think the stewards are not there to watch the race. They are there to make decisions about things that went wrong. So they should finish the race and tell the stewards to analyze this incident, evaluate this scene, find out what happened, work on it, make a decision and move on, and not watch. But in my opinion, following the race should not be part of their job.”
Criticism of individual decisions by the race stewards
Steiner also spoke clearly about the assessment of individual incidents: “Crossing a white line, what is there to discuss legally? Either you are over it or not. There are cameras, and the teams still have the option to protest. But in the end, you either cross the white line or not. This is not a case like Gasly and Lawson. Either it happened or it didn’t. Before, after, or in three days, it’s the same picture.”