Steiner hits out at Grosjean's 'unacceptable' penalty point

  • Published on 31 Mar 2019 09:48
  • comments 3
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Guenther Steiner says that awarding Romain Grosjean one penalty point on his licence as well as a three-place grid penalty is "unacceptable".

Grosjean was handed the grid drop and penalty point post-qualifying on Saturday after he was deemed guilty of holding up Lando Norris at the final corner, who was finishing a fast lap.

Both Norris and Grosjean blamed Sebastian Vettel for the incident, as the German overtook Grosjean before the final corner in order to have a clear track for his fast lap.

Steiner says that the team will work hard to make up for the lost places and secure a double points finish: “On the positive side, qualifying so close to a Red Bull, for us is fantastic," he said. "We showed that as a team we work together pretty well.

"We had one issue with Romain (Grosjean), he’s been penalized three grid positions and one point. If you want to discuss the grid position, that’s one thing, but the point on his license is unacceptable.

"He had nothing to do with this, it was a clear misunderstanding with his crew. So, we start sixth and 11th, and we’ll try to do our best in tomorrow’s race and make up the positions lost due to the stewards.”

Grosjean is prepared for a long race in tricky conditions but is hoping that he can end up finishing inside the points after retiring from the season-opening race in Melbourne.

“I think we can be happy with qualifying both cars in the top 10, it’s very encouraging. It looks like we’re the most stable, in terms of performance, in the top 10, which is good.

"You always hope for a bit more, but I was happy to take eighth. It should be a fun race tomorrow.

"It’s going to be long, it’s going to be hot, there’s going to be a lot of tire degradation. I think it’s a cool track for racing, hopefully we’ll bring some good points back home.”

Replies (3)

Login to reply
  • Better start informing your drivers about surrounding traffic then to avoid such unnecessary points then. That even as little as one team don't do it poses a risk to all drivers on the grid.

    • + 0
    • Mar 31 2019 - 10:58
    • Listening to the team radios, both Haas drivers were informed about the traffic.

      • + 0
      • Mar 31 2019 - 14:51
    • I see. I wonder if that is a new addition, historically HAAS is pretty infamous for not giving such info to their drivers.

      • + 0
      • Mar 31 2019 - 15:01

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country FR
  • Date of b. Apr 17 1986 (38)
  • Place of b. Geneve, FR
  • Weight 71 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

  • comments 68,943 comments on Haas
  • star 16 members have this team as their favourite
  • vote Tweets about Haas
Show full profile
show sidebar