Source: McLaren Media Centre

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Steiner hits back at Alonso

Steiner hits back at Alonso

02-09-2018 09:28
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Bobby Vincent

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner thinks Fernando Alonso is not in a position to judge anyone else due to his recent struggles with his McLaren team.

Alonso and Haas driver Kevin Magnussen had an incident yesterday in Q2, when the McLaren man went to overtake the Haas driver into the Rettifilo chicane in the opening yards of the lap.

Magnussen did pass the Spaniard before the Parabolica, there was no collision but it did have a negative influence on both of their laps and it led Alonso to say: "There are many classes of drivers and then there are the Haas ones, who have the third or fourth best car on the grid and are out in Q2."

Steiner has come out and responded to Alonso's dig, Autosport asked him about the comments from the soon-to-be retired driver.

"Fernando went to McLaren. McLaren shouldn't be fighting to get out of Q1," Steiner explained. "So, I cannot help him there. I didn't make the decisions.

"He can talk for himself not for the others - that is a good starting point in life."

Alonso and McLaren have really struggled on the straights so far this season with their MCL33 not producing enough power and this has been more than evident in the last couple of races, with both being power-dominated tracks.

The two Haas drivers will start in P6 (Romain Grosjean) and P11 for Magnussen, who missed out on the final part of qualifying yesterday.