Magnussen did nothing to upset Leclerc – Steiner
Sauber and Charles Leclerc have no reason to be upset by Kevin Magnussen’s driving in the Japanese Grand Prix, according to Haas Formula 1 team boss Gunther Steiner.

The two drivers collided on the second lap of the race when Leclerc jinked to the right down the start-finish straight and rear-ended Magnussen as the Dane moved across to defend.
Magnussen picked up a left-rear puncture that caused enough damage to the car to force his eventual retirement, while Leclerc damaged his front wing.
Leclerc was angry with Magnussen after the reason but asked if he and his team have reason to be upset, Steiner said: "No. He [Leclerc] ran into him. He ran into him.
"Kevin didn't brake. He didn't push him off or anything, Kevin just moved over to his line and he ran into him.
"What can he do? Just let him by?"
When suggested by Motorsport.com that the concern was Magnussen moved over in a manner he should not, Steiner said: "It was before the braking point. It was not under braking."
Then, when asked by Motorsport.com if he felt Leclerc should bear some responsibility, Steiner said: "Exactly, that's what I think. He [Leclerc] needs to judge what he can do and what he cannot.
"He [Magnussen] didn't run into the side of him, he was clearly in front because he could move in front of him."
Leclerc branded his rival "dangerous" after the clash and the rookie said he had more trouble with Magnussen this season than any other driver.
It is not the first time Magnussen's driving has been criticised this season, with Pierre Gasly and Fernando Alonso both hitting out at his defensive moves at times.
Steiner has stood up for his driver before and declared him an easy target.
Asked by Motorsport.com if that was the case here, Steiner said: "Absolutely. It's more of the same. And I'm getting quite tired of this.
"If they have a problem with him just blame him for it because it's quite normal."

Previous article
Hamilton didn't expect Vettel to "tail off" like this
Next article
Fire cost Grosjean telemetry in Japanese GP

About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Event | Japanese GP |
Drivers | Charles Leclerc , Kevin Magnussen |
Teams | Haas F1 Team |
Author | Scott Mitchell |
Magnussen did nothing to upset Leclerc – Steiner
Trending
Scuderia Ferrari Filming Day Backstage Footage
Back to Work | Valtteri Bottas' 2021 Seat Fit
F1 Explained | Mercedes Power Unit
How McLaren F1’s new investors have already made an impact
The deal McLaren concluded with MSP Sports Capital last year which will help the cash-strapped Formula 1 team pay for much-needed infrastructure upgrades, also points toward the future for F1 itself, says GP Racing's Stuart Codling.
Why Verstappen isn't interested in the hype game
In a pre-season where Red Bull has been unusually quiet, Max Verstappen has also been guarded about the team's fortunes in 2021. Even after trying the RB16B for the first time at Silverstone, the Dutchman was careful to manage expectations
The pros and cons of F1's 2021 rule changes
In the strategy for grand prix racing's future, 2021 represents a significant step towards the goal of closer racing and a more level playing field. That's the theory behind the latest raft of changes, but will they have the desired effect?
What Red Bull is trying to hide with its RB16B launch
Red Bull made no secret of the fact its 2021 F1 car is an evolution of its predecessor, but in keeping the same foundations while hiding some tightly-guarded updates with its RB16B, the team aims to avoid suffering the same pitfalls of previous years
How Albon plans to fight his way out of Red Bull limbo
Alex Albon has faced the media for the first time since he lost his Red Bull drive at the end of 2020 and dropped out of a Formula 1 race seat altogether. He has a history of bouncing back from setbacks, so here's what he must do to rise again
Ranked! Carlin's greatest F1 graduates
Carlin has helped guide enough drivers to Formula 1 to fill out an entire grid, plus a handful of reserves, to create a remarkable alumni list. With Yuki Tsunoda set to join that group, Motorsport.com has ranked its graduates to grace the grand prix scene...
Why Alfa's 2021 launch says more about its 2022 plans
Alfa Romeo launched its C41 with a revised front nose, but there's little to suggest it will surge up the leaderboard in 2021. As the team frankly admits, it's putting its eggs in the basket labelled 2022 and hoping to hold the eighth place it earned last year
Why Gasly’s AlphaTauri haven is a blessing and a curse
Red Bull opted not to re-sign Pierre Gasly even before it decided to drop Alex Albon and so the Frenchman's Formula 1 journey will continue at AlphaTauri. This has positive and negative connotations for one of last season's star performers.