Toto Wolff’s Mazepin Outburst a “Publicity Stunt” – Steiner

Haas’ team principal Guenther Steiner is a man who speaks his mind. If you have watched Drive to Survive on Netflix, you realize he is a passionate and outspoken individual. Staying true to his form, he didn’t stay quiet when had a problem with Toto Wolff contacting the race director at Catalunya.

At the Spanish Grand Prix, Wolff got on the radio to express his displeasure to race director Michael Masi on Lap 26. Haas’ Nikita Mazepin was at the center of the storm yet again, as he ignored blue flags. And this time, he ignored them for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Wolff’s actions did not go down well with Steiner, who made his feelings quite clear.

Wolff’s communication with Masi had Guenther Steiner fuming

For the first time in the history of F1, fans got to hear radio communication between a team principal and the race director. Toto Wolff brought Mazepin’s antics to Michael Masi’s notice, saying that he was costing Lewis Hamilton track position.

Steiner retorted to Wolff’s communication by saying, “I think Nikita did a good job to get out of it and maybe Toto being Toto just wanted to make sure that he showed who is in command here and that everybody should move when he is coming along. He didn’t let his guys do that work.

“He wanted a bit of publicity I guess.”

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Haas’ struggles continue as Mazepin repeats blue flag antics

Finishing at the very bottom in the Spanish Grand Prix, Haas seem to be well behind the pack at the moment. And Steiner was far from pleased with the team’s showing in Barcelona.

He said, “At a race weekend like this, you will never see me pleased or happy but on the other side, we have to see the good things. We finished with both cars, no damage, everything was good so for sure we did some laps, they did some learning again and at the start both guys did a good job.”

The incident in Spain wasn’t the first time Mazepin ignored blue flags. In the Portuguese Grand Prix, he took a five-second penalty for ignoring blue flags and blocking Red Bull’s Sergio Perez. Charles Leclerc and Nicholas Latifi have also been colourful in their words for the Russian on the team radio.

With the Monaco Grand Prix next, things are looking glum for the American team at the moment. Can the young drivers spring an upset at the famed street circuit?