Drastic words from former Haas team boss Günther Steiner (59)!
It is an open secret that the South Tyrolean had a complicated relationship with Mick Schumacher (25) – the son of record world champion Michael Schumacher (55). But he really had trouble with Mick’s uncle Ralf Schumacher (49)!
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In his book “Unfiltered: My Incredible Decade in Formula 1” he admits that as team boss he should have been above things. He would have had to approach many things differently.
And then follows up: “Just like I would kick Ralf’s ass through the paddock instead of just thinking about it. I wanted his blood in 2022.”
Strong statement from Steiner!
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Those: Instagram @valtteribottas16.11.2024
What he means by that: During Mick’s time at Haas, Steiner had a heated argument with Ralf Schumacher. He publicly criticized Steiner and accused him of treating his nephew badly.
Ralf Schumacher accused Steiner, among other things, of actively fighting to ensure that his nephew has no future in Formula 1 and does not get a cockpit at Alpine.
Steiner didn’t skimp on criticism and was team boss of Schumi’s son in his first (and so far only) two years in the team Formula 1 (2021 and 2022). He didn’t shy away from criticism and ensured that Mick’s contract was not extended in the end.
Ralf Schumacher (l.) often publicly supports his nephew Mick Schumacher (r.).
Photo: picture alliance / Eibner-Pressefoto
In his book, Steiner continues: “Around this time my well-known war of words with Mick’s Uncle Ralf began. Do you remember? That made more headlines than some of the damn races.”
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And: “He and I have since buried the hatchet, but I openly admit that the timing of Ralf’s outbursts couldn’t have been worse. It helped drive a wedge between us.”
About two weeks ago, Mick’s dream was to take part in Formula 1 suddenly burst. The Sauber racing team announced that the Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto (20) will be racing for Audi next season – and not the son of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher.
Has closely followed Mick’s career, how do both of you view this decision and its implications for Mick’s future in Formula 1?
Hello and welcome to today’s interview. We have two special guests with us today, Mr. Günther Steiner and Ralf Schumacher, who have recently been involved in a heated exchange about Mick Schumacher’s Formula 1 career. Günther, please introduce yourself and your role in the Haas F1 team for our audience.
Günther Steiner: Hello, I am Günther Steiner, former team boss of the Haas Formula 1 team. I spent several years leading the team and worked closely with Mick Schumacher during his time at Haas. My primary role was to ensure the team’s performance on the track and manage the overall operations.
Ralf Schumacher: Hello, my name is Ralf Schumacher, and I am Mick’s uncle and a former Formula 1 driver myself. I have been supporting Mick throughout his career, particularly during his time at Haas when things didn’t seem to go as smoothly as we had hoped.
Our first question goes to Mr. Steiner. In your recently published book, you make some strong statements about your relationship with Mick and his uncle Ralf. Can you elaborate on what led to these comments and how do you feel about the situation today?
Günther Steiner: Certainly. As team boss, I should have been above things and approached matters differently. My comments about wanting to kick Ralf’s ass through the paddock and blood were inappropriate, and I’ve since realized that. However, I felt under attack from Ralf at the time, and his public criticism of me and the team was unfair. Ultimately, we have moved on from this and put our differences aside.
Ralf Schumacher: I saw it differently. I felt that Günther was not giving my nephew, Mick, the support he needed as a young upcoming driver, and the results on the track reflected this. I stood up for what I believed in and helped shine a light on the situation. While it may have been harsh, I felt it was necessary to ensure that Mick received the support he deserved.
Moving on, the recent announcement by Sauber that Gabriel Bortoleto will be joining them next season instead of Mick Schumacher has sparked a lot of speculation in the F1 community. As someone who
