Steiner fined EUR 7,500 for insulting F1 steward

Gunther Steiner a little lighter in the wallet

(GMM) Gunther Steiner has escaped with a slap on the wrist after his Sochi radio outburst.

Some had feared that the Haas boss could be banned from the paddock for a race after lashing out at a "stupid idiotic steward" believed to be former F1 driver Emanuele Pirro.

Steiner's outburst was made over the radio to Kevin Magnussen, who was penalized for the manner in which he rejoined the circuit after an off at Sochi.

"You know who the steward is," Steiner had told Magnussen. "You know him. It is always the same. He just does not get any more intelligent."

At Suzuka, stewards summoned Steiner on Friday on a disrepute charge.

Emanuele Pirro – the same Steward that took away Vettel's win in Montreal

According to the FIA, Steiner argued that he made the comments "in the heat of the moment after a hotly contested race".

"In retrospect, he regretted his choice of words used at the time and did not intend for them to reflect unfavorably on the FIA officials
of the event and the championship," the stewards statement added.

The FIA concluded that Steiner's words harmed "the reputation of motorsport in general", and said "public personal attacks" are "totally inappropriate".

He was found in breach of the International Sporting Code, but was let off with a EUR 7,500 fine because it was the first such offense.

"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," said the FIA.