Gunther Steiner calls for radio rules clarity

Haas team principal Gunther Steiner has become the latest name to speak out against Formula One's controversial radio rules.

The rules, intended to stop driver coaching, have come under increased scrutiny in the wake of Nico Rosberg's penalty at the British Grand Prix for receiving help with a gearbox problem.

"The biggest difficulty is making a judgement on what is legal and what's not," said Steiner. "The line is not clear. How you can write a clear line on what to say, or if somebody suggests what you said was a code and it wasn't?

"On the pit wall you are asking 'Can we say this?' 'I don't really know if we can say that. I think we can'. It's the uncertainty," he continued. "We need to define it better, but as to how easy that is, I know I wouldn't like to write that rule.

While Steiner agrees with certain aspects of the ban, he believes that the interaction between the driver and the pit wall is an integral part of a Grand Prix.

"If the team cannot influence the strategy, and it's just down to the driver, it's not really fair," added Steiner.

"But telling them how to start is also not right. The car becomes a PlayStation car in saying 'You do this, you do that'. It's a fine line.

However, Steiner rejected the idea of getting rid of the radio completely, insisting that it was a big part of the experience for fans watching on television.

"Not talking [over the radio] is not good because it takes something away from the fans," he said. "We all just want clarity for the benefit of the sport, not to do anything wrong. This rule is not black and white."

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