Sports
Lewis Hamilton ‘would now be eight-time World Champion’ with FIA under fresh criticism
Ex-Haas boss Guenther Steiner says Formula 1’s governing body the FIA “have ceased being culpable for their mistakes”, Lewis Hamilton being a glaring victim.
The FIA has found itself featuring prominently in the F1 headlines as of late, after president Mohammed Ben Sulayem called for a clampdown on swearing in Formula 1, to differentiate the sport from “rap music”. Max Verstappen was the first victim, ordered to carry out “some work of public interest” after swearing in the pre-Singapore Grand Prix press conference.
Hamilton called Verstappen’s penalty a “joke” and urged him not to serve it, with Verstappen having protested against the FIA by keeping his answers very short in the Singapore press conferences which followed, tactics adopted by WRC legend Sébastien Ogier after he felt the FIA’s wrath, later claiming “we have been told by the top of the FIA to shut our mouths.”
And the FIA has not found much support from Steiner, who in his new book ‘Unfiltered’, to be released in October, claimed the FIA “have ceased being culpable for their mistakes and have lost their humility”, which “isn’t a good situation”.
He pointed to the highly controversial F1 2021 title decider in Abu Dhabi – where Max Verstappen snatched the crown from Hamilton on the final lap to become World Champion for the first time – after race director Michael Masi’s actions attracted fierce criticism.
Masi replaced Charlie Whiting after his sad passing shortly before the 2019 season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Steiner claiming that Hamilton would be a record eight-time World Champion if Whiting had been calling the shots.
“Wherever your loyalties lie with that one (and yes, I agree, it was amazing entertainment), from a regulations point of view it was a sh*t show of biblical proportions,” Steiner stated, “and regardless of what decision Charlie Whiting might have made in Michael Masi’s position, there would have been far less controversy and embarrassment.
“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.”
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has not taken kindly to the recent criticism of the governing body, which he claims lack the deserved “credit”.
“We will never get the credit. Impossible,” he told Motorsport.com. “We’ll only get rubbish. That I know.
“When you look at it, everybody made money out of the FIA, everyone except the FIA. Everyone gets the credit, except the FIA.
THERE IS COMMENT BOX AFTER THE ADS, SHARE YOUR THOUGHT WITH US
Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher, is in the running for a potential return to F1. The young racer has emerged as a late contender for a seat at Kick Sauber, which will become Audi in 2026. Led by Mattia Binotto, the team announced Mick as a candidate for their drivers’ lineup in 2025.
Speaking in an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Binotto dived into details about the young driver. “We are definitely evaluating him [Mick Schumacher],” he said.
The statement is being seen as the 25-year-old’s last chance to return to the sport.
Mick has previous association with Mattia Binotto through the Ferrari Driver Academy.
Speaking about their connection, Binotto added, “I met him and spoke to him. I have known him for a long time, having been part of the Ferrari Driver Academy. I know his strengths and advantages. He is one of the names we have in mind.”
Mick, who drove for Haas during his last stint in Formula 1, was a reserve for Mercedes in the last two seasons. The driver was also in contention for a seat at Alpine after Esteban Ocon left the team for Haas. He even raced for the French manufacturer in the World Endurance Championship. However, the squad decided to go with rookie driver Jack Doohan, instead.
Audi Chief Binotto now has the young racer on the radar as he hopes to bring him back to the sport.
He discussed how the team was in no rush to make a hasty decision, especially now that most teams have already decided their line-ups. “There are two essential options: on the one hand, experience to set us on the growth path. On the other is a young, talented driver who can accompany us on the path to the top,” Binotto said.
With Sauber preparing for a full acquisition by Audi in 2026, the German carmaker looks focused on assembling a competitive team. Should Mick join Sauber, he would team up with Nico Hulkenberg, who leaves Haas at the end of the 2024 season. The 37-year-old German racer is taking one of the two seats next year.
THERE IS COMMENT BOX AFTER THE ADS, SHARE YOUR THOUGHT WITH US
Carlos Sainz teased one day revealing his true thoughts on Mattia Binotto claiming he would not have signed Lewis Hamilton if still Ferrari boss.
Ahead of the F1 2024 campaign, Hamilton activated an exit clause in his Mercedes contract to engineer a blockbuster F1 2025 move to Ferrari, signing a multi-year deal. That came at the expense of Sainz, who has since agreed terms with Williams.
Carlos Sainz reacts after Binotto’s Lewis Hamilton Ferrari bombshell
At Ferrari, Hamilton reunites with his former junior series boss Fred Vasseur, who took over the reins at Maranello in 2023, after the exit of former team principal Mattia Binotto.
And Binotto has confirmed that if he were still calling the shots, Hamilton would not have got his Ferrari dream move.
Asked by Corriere della Sera if he would have signed Hamilton to Ferrari, Binotto replied: “No. But he did very well to go to Ferrari, I agree with his decision.”
Explaining his reasoning, Binotto said that Hamilton’s future Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc – a part of their line-up since 2019 and a Ferrari Driver Academy graduate – should be their centrepiece for an F1 title challenge.
“Because Ferrari had set their sights on other drivers. And if the talent is Leclerc, he is the one who somehow I think should be taken to the target,” claimed Binotto.
And Sainz, speaking at the 2024 Marca Sports Weekend, was asked for his reaction to that.
“Binotto says he wouldn’t have signed Lewis?” Sainz replied.
Gathering up his thoughts, Sainz teased that he would one day share them, but this was not the time.
“I don’t get involved in that,” he said, “I’ll keep my opinion to myself and I’ll tell you my opinion over dinner one day.”
As for the Hamilton and Leclerc partnership, Sainz believes it will be a successful one for Ferrari.
“He and Leclerc are two great drivers, I’m sure they’ll have a good time,” he said.
Sainz will be joining a Williams team striving to work its way up the F1 pecking order, with F1 2026 – the year that new chassis and power unit regulations arrive – very much the goal in mind rather than next season.
THERE IS COMMENT BOX AFTER THE ADS, SHARE YOUR THOUGHT WITH US
Amidst the chaos in the Cup Series playoffs, one driver has been consistently getting the results while flying under the radar. Christopher Bell has been somewhat of a dark horse in the ongoing campaign, even though he’s currently second in the championship, having secured three wins in the season so far. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has shown great consistency over the last few weeks, finishing no lower than seventh in the last four races.
Despite the attention going towards the traditional favorites such as Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin, a prominent NASCAR Insider isn’t ruling out Christopher Bell as a genuine title contender if he does make it to Phoenix Raceway later this year.
He might not be in the headlines, but Christopher Bell has every reason to be optimistic about his championship hopes going into the last four races of the season. The 29-year-old has shown tremendous consistency over the last few months, having finished inside the top ten in 9 out of the last 11 races. As a result, the No. 20 Toyota Camry driver finds himself just behind Kyle Larson in the standings going into the Round of Eight. Even though Victory Lane has eluded the Oklahoma native, Bell is playing the long game, hoping to remain in contention, going into the Championship 4 race.
Highlighting his expectations from Christopher Bell, NBC Sports play-by-play announcer Leigh Diffey said on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, “I don’t think enough people give enough credit to Christopher Bell. To me, he’s that quiet achiever and I love the fact that how honest he was at Kansas where he made the mistake at the end of Stage 1 and Stage 2 when he hit the wall, said that’s totally on me. I just think he’s the only guy who’s made the Championship 4 the last two years in succession, and I just think the time is now for him.
