Guenther Steiner was one of many sturdy personalities on the Formulation One monitor that helped rework Drive to Survive right into a roaring success of a actuality TV present for Netflix, earlier than his dismissal from Crew Haas after ten years on the helm.
Swearing in his sturdy Italian accent was an integral a part of Steiner’s forthright persona that endeared him to followers of the present worldwide, and he was essential about new guidelines that imply drivers are fined for swearing of their automobiles, one thing they’ve all the time executed because the sport started, however one thing that has incurred higher scrutiny because the Drive to Survive cameras and microphones started choosing up each phrase and gesture by drivers and paddock personnel.
Steiner told Daily Mail Sports:
‘It’s ludicrous. A sport with out emotion isn’t a sport. So long as you don’t damage anybody, it’s high-quality and it ought to have been handled by simply telling the drivers ‘hey guys, tone it down a notch’ as a substitute of creating such a giant deal out of it.”
Regardless of his dismissal from Haas, Steiner – who has parlayed his TV reputation into trackside punditry duties, two bestselling memoirs and a UK tour regaling audiences with tales from his profession – stated he believed the game’s future was safe, because of the hit actuality TV present that filmed his dismissal.
He stated: “I feel it’s fairly entertaining what’s occurred to my character. I’m pleased to snicker at myself and provides folks enjoyment as a result of I’ve by no means taken myself too significantly. A sport can’t have something higher than a younger viewers as a result of it means the longer term is secure and numerous that’s right down to Drive to Survive.”
Steiner was one of many breakout stars of sequence 1, when few of the most important Formulation One groups wished to be concerned or featured, so producers targeted on mid-grid groups who have been eager for protection. He left as a full-time speaking head on the finish of sequence 7 following his firing by Haas. He was interviewed once more for season 8 (which dropped final month) however featured far more sparingly.