Steiner Blasts Axed Race Director Over 'British Bias' Claims for Norris Incident

Guenther Steiner, the former Haas F1 team boss, has vehemently dismissed suggestions of 'British bias' in F1 stewarding, specifically addressing why Lando Norris was not issued a black and orange flag at the recent Singapore Grand Prix despite front wing damage. Steiner used the opportunity to launch a scathing critique of a former race director, whom he claims was 'obsessed' with minor car damage and cost his team valuable points.

Why it matters:

This incident highlights the ongoing scrutiny of F1's race director decisions and the consistency of applying rules, particularly concerning car damage. Steiner's comments reveal deep-seated frustrations from teams regarding past officiating and underscore the critical role a race director plays in race outcomes and safety.

The Details:

• Norris's Damage: Lando Norris sustained damage to his front wing flap after contact with Max Verstappen in Singapore. However, he was not instructed to pit, and the damage remained stable, with Norris himself noting it had little impact on car performance.
• The 'Meatball' Flag: The black and orange 'meatball' flag is used by the FIA Race Director to instruct a driver to pit for repairs if damage is deemed dangerous due to potential debris.
• Haas's Past: In 2022, Kevin Magnussen of Haas received three such flags, one for similar front wing damage in Singapore, forcing a pit stop that ruined his race.
• Steiner's Accusation: Speaking on the 'Red Flags Podcast', Steiner attributed the discrepancy between Norris's situation and Magnussen's to a change in race directors. While not naming him, Steiner's description strongly points to Eduardo Freitas, who briefly shared the role in 2022 before being replaced.
• Former Director's 'Obsession': Steiner claimed the unnamed former director was