Steiner wants more 'professional F1 stewards' after Hulkenberg penalty

Guenther Steiner has blasted the stewards at the Monaco Grand Prix for penalising Nico Hulkenberg for his move on Logan Sargeant at the start of the race.

The Haas driver made a move up the inside on Sargeant during the opening lap at Mirabeau, but was later penalised for causing a collision.

The stewards handed him a five-second time penalty, which turned into a 10-second time penalty after he failed to serve the first one correctly during a pit stop.

Steiner has asked for an explanation from the stewards, as he believes that there was no contact between the two to warrant any initial penalty.

"I think it's [turn] six when they are in the line, and the Aston Martin is front. I looked at the pictures and Nico, comes from the inside and dives into the corner, but I can't see a collision.

"I'm told that [the definition of] a collision is touching, but I'm still trying to find out. I'm still trying to get it explained because I think it was completely wrong."

Steiner: I don't understand the decision

Steiner's tirade on the decision by the stewards continued, after confirming that he sought further clarification on the matter.

"This has consequences. Lap one, we get a penalty for what I think is not a collision, then there is other people running into each other during the race and they get a black and white flag. So I think it's very inconsistent.

"Then we look at the accident in Miami between de Vries and Norris in lap one, that was no collision? If a collision is because you attack somebody, and he reacts to it, why would you get a penalty for that?"

Steiner was unhappy due to other angles appearing to show that there was not a collision between Hulkenberg and Sargeant, despite the official stewards ruling saying that the Haas driver "caused a collision" after he "dove in and was unable to control the car."

"I still don't understand it. And I was told in the video that you can see a collision, I looked at numerous pictures and I cannot see a collision.

"If somebody wants to tell me there is a collision, how can you be sure? And if you don't know if it is one or not, what is it then? Innocent until proven guilty? Not 'guilty until proven innocent' in my opinion."

New system needed for F1 stewards?

When asked what solution he wants to see implemented F1 to prevent inconsistencies in rulings, Steiner replied: "Professional stewards in my opinion."

The Haas team boss pointed towards other championships which have regular officials attend every race, while F1 uses a rotational system for stewards each race weekend.

"We need a different system for F1 stewards in my opinion, because every other professional sport has got professionals being referees and stuff like this," he added.

"F1 is one of the biggest sports in the world and we still have laymen's deciding on the fate of people who invest millions in their careers. It's always a discussion because there's no consistency.

"In American racing - NASCAR and IndyCar - how many times do you hear problems with the stewards or race directors decisions? Very rarely. But they're doing it completely different because there is full-time people working there."