Steiner: Magnussen/Hulkenberg spat is 'old news'

Nico Hulkenberg (Renault), Kevin Magnussen (Haas F1) clash in the Hungarian Grand Prix

Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner says that the row between his driver Kevin Magnussen and Renault's Nico Hulkenberg is over and done with.

The drivers fell out in Hungary when they were competing over 11th place. Hulkenberg attempted to pass Magnussen around the outside of turn 2 at the Hungaroring, and was pushed wide onto the grass.

The German driver subsequently labelled Magnussen "the most unsporting driver of the whole grid" for his actions, adding: "When it comes to racing, he's just nasty."

Magnussen - who was handed a five-second time penalty by the race stewards - didn't take the criticism well. When he met his rival in parc fermé after the race he told Hulkenberg to "suck my b***s, honey!"

Steiner revealed this week that he'd run into Hulkenberg at the airport after the race. He said he was confident that there would be no further recriminations or insults bandied around between the pair this weekend.

“It’s been handled fine," he said. "At some stage there is a cut-off. It’s getting old. No-one wants to hear old news.

“Nothing more needs to be said. I don’t think we need to have a hugging session between Nico and Kevin," he added.

Magnussen work ethic criticism unjustified - Steiner

"I don’t think we need to get into he said/he said," Steiner continued. "We have our standpoint and he has his own ... Just move on.

“It was fun, but fun has a sell-by date. If you keep on going on about the same thing it gets old."

Magnussen said he was looking forward to getting back to work at Spa after four weeks off.

"I have many good memories from competing at Spa," he said. "I’ve won in every category I’ve raced there, with the exception of Formula 1.

"Spa is just flat out. You’re pushing everywhere," he noted, adding that not even Eau Rouge and Raidillon required the driver to lift in today's cars.

"I’m sure it will be pretty easy flat out. It’s a bit like a roller coaster," he commented. "Eau Rouge and Pouhon are probably the best sections, but the whole track is just amazing.”

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.