Guenther Steiner has launched a scathing attack on FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem over his suggestion that the governing body could help Aston Martin keep Fernando Alonso competitive in Formula 1. Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, the former Haas team principal labelled Ben Sulayem's comments as inappropriate interference.
“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. “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.”
His criticism followed Ben Sulayem's remarks ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, where he stated it was “not acceptable” for the two-time champion to be uncompetitive and offered to help improve the team's situation to prevent Alonso from retiring. Ben Sulayem said he would speak to Alonso directly and mentioned the ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) system that the FIA had approved in May.
Steiner then compared Aston Martin's struggles to those of new team Cadillac, which has yet to score points this season. “So what should Cadillac say? Oh, we deserve to be better. We need some help,” he continued. “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.”
The controversy unfolds during a tough 2026 campaign for Aston Martin, with the Silverstone-based squad far from expectations. Alonso's contract expires at the end of the season, fuelling rumours of a move to Alpine or retirement.
While an FIA spokesperson clarified that Ben Sulayem's comments related to the ADUO system, Steiner remains adamant that the federation should not meddle in team performance matters. He stressed that in sport, success must be earned through hard work, not handouts.
Aston Martin and Alonso have yet to respond to Steiner's criticism. The debate highlights the tension between the FIA and teams over the boundaries of intervention in competition. With the 2026 season still unfolding, how Aston Martin and Alonso handle the pressure will be a storyline to watch.
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