Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner has hit back at FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, heavily criticising suggestions from the governing body that it could step in to help Aston Martin retain Fernando Alonso, as Motorsport.com reports. Ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Ben Sulayem declared it unacceptable for the two-time champion to struggle with an uncompetitive car, offering to assist the Silverstone outfit in improving their situation to prevent the Spaniard from walking away.
"There is no way we can allow Fernando to leave - Alonso, a great champion - to leave just because of the circumstances," Ben Sulayem stated, adding that he wanted to find out directly from the driver what the FIA could do to improve results. An FIA spokesperson later clarified that these remarks referred to the additional development and upgrade opportunities system. Alonso's current contract with Aston Martin is set to expire at the end of this season, which has naturally sparked swirling rumours regarding a potential switch to Alpine or total retirement from the sport.
They need a lot of help, by the way, a lot more than Aston Martin, because Aston Martin can help themselves and they will help themselves.
Appearing on The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner did not hold back his thoughts on the governing body intervening to protect a star name. "Nobody deserves to be there or be anywhere. Not only in Formula 1. You need to work to be there. You need to want to be there, but not deserve it," Steiner argued. He maintained that earning success is the only currency that matters in motorsport.
"What does deserve mean? Nobody deserves anything, in my opinion, in a sport, in life is something different. To say that Aston Martin needs to figure that out, that's their problem. That is not the federation's problem," Steiner fired back.
To drive his point home, the former team boss highlighted other squads suffering through a difficult 2026 campaign, pointing specifically to new entrants Cadillac joining the grid as the 11th team without a single point to their name yet. "So what should Cadillac say? Oh, we deserve to be better. We need some help," Steiner questioned.
"They need a lot of help, by the way, a lot more than Aston Martin, because Aston Martin can help themselves and they will help themselves."
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