Formula 1 Racing

RaceFans Round-up: Hamilton would be an eight-time champion if Whiting was still alive

Guenther Steiner

In the round-up: Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner says late Formula 1 director Charlie Whiting, who died in 2019, would not have prevented the controversial end to the 2021 world championship.

In brief

Whiting wouldn’t have allowed 2021 finale ‘s*** show’

Steiner has repeatedly criticised F1 stewarding

Steiner, who was censured for criticising the FIA stewards on multiple occasions during his time in charge of Haas, claims that after Whiting died on the eve of the 2019 season the sport’s governing body “have ceased being culpable for their mistakes and have lost their humility.”

“That isn’t a good situation,” Steiner added in his new book, ‘Unfiltered’.

He said one example of this was the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where race director Michael Masi broke F1’s rules by arranging a late Safety Car restart, in which Lewis Hamilton lost the world championship to Max Verstappen.

“Wherever your loyalties lie with that one (and yes, I agree, it was amazing entertainment), from a regulations point of view it was a shit show of biblical proportions, and regardless of what decision Charlie Whiting might have made in Michael Masi’s position there would have been far less controversy and embarrassment,” Steiner wrote.

“Oh, fok it. We all know what Charlie would have done. Had he been at the helm Lewis would now be an eight-time world champion.”

Camara succeeds Antonelli as FREC champion

Ferrari junior driver Rafael Camara has won the Formula Regional European Championship title, which 2025 Mercedes F1 racer Andrea Kimi Antonelli claimed last year. Fourth place in yesterday’s race at the Circuit de Catalunya (below) secured the crown, despite his closest rival James Wharton taking his third win from pole position in the last three races.

Wurz to Trident

Charlie Wurz, who finished 22nd in the FIA Formula 3 championship with Jenzer this year, will join Trident next season. Trident driver Fornaroli won the title this year.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday to Tyanne and Jamiejay!

On this day in motorsport

  • 40 years ago today Martin Brundle returned to racing for the first time since his huge Dallas crash – in the first ever British Truck Grand Prix at Donington Park. He was leading the grand final until his brakes failed in the closing stages.

Newsletter

Don’t miss any of our…

Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at RaceFans…