Guenther Steiner lost it when Fernando Alonso showed ‘no contrition’ after Haas crash

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Fernando Alonso is the most experienced driver in the history of Formula 1. If all goes to plan, he will become the first to reach 400 starts at the Qatar Grand Prix in December.

During his F1 career, which started in 2001, Alonso has developed a reputation as a ruthless and canny operator. In 2007, when he partnered Lewis Hamilton at McLaren, he infamously waited in the pit box to prevent his teammate setting another lap time in qualifying.

Alonso took pole position ahead of the Englishman but he later received a five-grid place penalty. He left the team at the end of the year to return to Renault before joining Ferrari in 2010.

Following a five-season stay at Maranello where he twice came agonisingly close to winning the title, he made a disastrous second attempt to achieve success at McLaren. He joined just as Honda returned to F1 as their engine supplier.

Honda’s comeback was disastrous, and Alonso made no attempt to hide his frustration. At their home race in Japan, he lamented his ‘GP2 engine’ over the team radio.

After initially retiring in 2018, the Spaniard rejoined the grid with Alpine before a switch to Aston Martin. At the Australian GP earlier this year, his tactics in a battle with George Russell earned him a severe 20-second penalty.

Guenther Steiner was aghast at Fernando Alonso after Esteban Gutierrez crash in 2016

The stewards decided Alonso had driven in a potentially dangerous manner as he tried to keep Russell at bay. The Mercedes driver seemed to be caught out by the Aston Martin’s early braking before he crashed on the penultimate lap.

This isn’t the only major incident involving Alonso at Albert Park. Back in 2016, he dramatically tangled with the Haas of Esteban Gutierrez.

Alonso tried to pass the Mexican on the outside on the run to turn three, but he seemed to misjudge the closing speed, slamming into the left-rear of the Haas. As he slid into the gravel, his car flipped onto its side before reaching the barriers.

Writing in his book, Unfiltered, former team principal Guenther Steiner criticised Alonso for failing to apologise. Both drivers emerged without serious injury, a testament to modern safety innovations.

“Until now I had managed to keep my emotions in check since arriving in Australia, but this made me lose my cool,” Steiner recalled. “The move had been very poorly executed by Fernando and when interviewed afterwards he showed no contrition at all.

“The most important thing was that both drivers came out of it okay, of course. Fernando did have a couple of fractured ribs.”

What Fernando Alonso wants to do in 2027 when he’s retired from Formula 1

Alonso knows he’s now approaching the end of his career. He extended his contract earlier this year, committing for two more seasons.

That will give him the chance to drive an Adrian Newey-designed car following the 2026 regulation changes. It’s his last hope of winning a third world championship.

There was a wild claim this week that Alonso could lose his seat midway through 2025. The only issue for the veteran may be the potential availability of Max Verstappen, given that his teammate Lance Stroll is the son of owner Lawrence.

Still, Alonso is committed to Aston Martin and he could stay on in a management role after he retires. Failing that, he could represent them in a different discipline come 2027.