“We Would Have Been Crucified”

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The book begins with the dismissal of Russian pilot Nikita Mazepin (24, 21 GP starts) at the start of last season. Due to the war in Ukraine, the American team (currently seventh in the Constructors’ Championship with seven points) decided to part ways with Mazepin and Uralkali, his father’s company and Haas sponsor.

“If we had kept Uralkali as a sponsor and had them on our livery, we would have been crucified by the media, the fans and the FIA. It would have been suicide,” Steiner writes in his book. Nevertheless, the South Tyrolean speaks, who was in goal for five years in the juniors at HC Meran, of a “tough decision”. “We were at a point where our other sponsors would have left Haas if we hadn’t acted now. And if we had waited longer, we eventually had no more sponsors.”

The Dane Kevin Magnussen (30) took over the starting place from Mazepin. In hindsight, Steiner would have liked the FIA ​​to take action – in the form of a blanket ban on Russian pilots, for example. However, this did not happen.

In addition to Mazepin, Steiner’s ex-protégé Mick Schumacher (24) also gets his fat in the book. Steiner recounts the reasons for the separation from Schumi junior, who now works as a replacement driver for Mercedes: “I can’t have a driver I don’t trust to safely take a car through a slow lap. That’s ridiculous.”

Steiner addresses Schumi’s accident during practice at the Japanese GP. On the rainy track and on the way to the pits, the German lost control of his vehicle – damage: about 700,000 euros! In total, the accident costs caused by Schumi in 43 races would amount to around two million euros. A considerable amount!

But Steiner also points to the difficulty of being the son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher (54): “It was all difficult because Mick’s name created enormous pressure.” And: “Schumi’s environment was never much help to Mick!” The young German was followed at Haas by an old acquaintance in Formula 1: his compatriot Nico Hülkenberg (35).

In the current season, it shows what is possible with de Haas. In Australia «Hülki» only finished in the points in his third race – his predecessor succeeded only twice. In addition, the 184-time GP starter (one pole) has his opponent Magnussen firmly under control.

With the title “Surviving to Drive”, Steiner refers to the successful Netflix series “Drive to Survive”. Formula 1’s documentation already lists five seasons. Steiner also plays a central role in the series time and again – and with his tirades, he has become the secret darling of the audience. (tired)

Source : Blick