Who would have thought that was possible? Günther Steiner, Ralf Schumacher and Peter Hardenacke back together in front of the camera in Bahrain
Günther Steiner and Ralf Schumacher spoke to each other at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Thursday and buried the hatchet. They met for a “brief conversation”, Schumacher revealed in an interview in front of the Sky camera, and the “different opinions” were “quickly discussed”, because: “It wasn’t that bad. “
Steiner, who is in Bahrain as a TV expert for the Cologne-based private broadcaster RTL, also considers the dispute to be over: “I’m friends with Ralf again. All is right with the world again,” laughs the former Haas team boss, adding: “We’ve decided that we disagree. It’s all good.”
The relationship between Steiner, who was still at the helm of Haas himself at the time, and Sky pundit Ralf Schumacher had broken down when Steiner sharply criticized his then driver Mick Schumacher, Ralf’s nephew, in the 2022 season. The “climax” of the escalation was a “scandalous interview” between Steiner and Sky reporter Peter Hardenacke in Azerbaijan in 2022.
Steiner then did not give a single interview to Sky Germany until the end of his term of office – until reconciliation with Ralf Schumacher took place on Thursday. On Friday, Steiner, Schumacher and Hardenacke were back in front of the camera together for the first time after the third free practice session in Bahrain.
“That was a nice conversation, Ralf, Günther, really. It was fun,” said Hardenacke. When he finished the interview and flippantly asked Schumacher whether it wasn’t nice that everything had been cleared up between him and Steiner again, Schumacher replied with an embarrassed laugh: “Well …”
Ralf Schumacher has not fundamentally changed his opinion of Steiner’s behavior during his time as Mick’s team boss. Although there was agreement in the reconciliation meeting, it was ultimately “a shame” how things went, because “by the time Mick really found the pace, it was almost a bit late. Unfortunately, that was the case. “
Steiner also seeks discussion with Mick Schumacher
Meanwhile,
Steiner announces that he will also seek a conciliatory conversation with Mick Schumacher at the next opportunity – something he has always refused to do: “Absolutely,” he says. “I also spoke to Ralf yesterday. I have no problem talking to people and saying that not everything was right.”
But: “People also need to understand the situation I was in. These are things that you can explain better when you are no longer involved, when you can talk openly. But I never had a problem with Mick personally. It was the circumstances, where we were, the performance and what happened. But I have no fear of contact. “
Steiner speaks for the first time about saying goodbye to Haas
Steiner also took the opportunity to explain the reason for his departure from the Haas team: “I looked at what all the other teams have done since the budget cap came in. You simply have to invest in the infrastructure to be able to keep up operationally, otherwise you spend too much money on ancillary costs. That was my idea.”
“I didn’t want to be here just to ride. I kept it up for a few years, fighting for everyone, I have to say. And at some point, the situation was such that there was a question of not renewing the contract, and then I said: ‘Okay, then we won’t renew. I’m still doing well. I’m allowed to be here with you.”
A happy ending after all …
