F1's Netflix star answers your questions

Earlier this year, Haas team boss Gunther Steiner achieved notoriety with his frank, no-nonsense approach to running a Formula 1 team.

The behind-the-scenes insight was brought to light in the Netflix documentary Drive to Survive.

While he has enjoyed a long career in motorsport, firstly in the World Rally Championship before joining Jaguar's F1 team in the early '00s, Steiner has most recently been at the helm of Haas, America's newest Formula 1 team.

The entertaining aspect of his appearance on the Netflix documentary was his X-rated comments, particularly when the hapless Romain Grosjean was in the firing line.

Those with a sensitive disposition had better look away now, as once again Gunther's highly humorous turn-of-phrase is vocalised in some of the responses to your questions. As we ascend the Haas motorhome and into his air-conditioned office, Steiner takes one look at the question cards and exclaims: "All of them?!"

Over the course of the next half hour, almost all are answered with a flourish - and much laughter. And what better place to start than the source of much, er, consternation - his two drivers...

How difficult is to deal with your drivers Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen?

Lorenzo Lombardi, Italy

I wouldn't say it's difficult, but it's always challenging to manage drivers because they all have... I wouldn't say egos, but they are particular and always want it their own way. I would say they are not different to anybody else. Drivers are always tough to manage. Whoever it is, it's always a big job.

You come from a rally background within motorsport, would you ever consider going back to your roots and being a team manager of a rally team?

Daniel Jones, UK

I still like it and watch it but it has lost a lot of the appeal and some of its adventure. In the past you would travel from one place to the next in an event, whereas today the service park is fixed. I'm still interested but I'm getting too old to change jobs now.

What's your biggest motivation to consistently survive in F1?

Mega Wati, Indonesia

Success on the race track. At the moment, getting good results for a team like Haas is coming fourth in the championship. We need to be realistic, but that is what motivates us.

Steiner's answer is unfortunately curtailed because the batteries in our voice recorder have suddenly died. Thankfully, Haas press attache Stuart Morrison is making a recording of our chat.

GS: I don't have to start again then? Good. I had to recently. Tom Clarkson wasn't recording the Beyond The Grid F1 Podcast I did, so we had to start all over again!

Why is your chassis OK for a few laps in qualifying and then worse in the race?

Larry Schultz, USA

If I knew that, I would fix it! You can blame the tyres, but we have to blame ourselves. We overheat the surface and have no grip anymore. When you start to overheat, you never recover.

If they had a bigger [operating] window, the drop-off would be less. They just switch off and then you are not two tenths slower but two seconds slower - everyone just drives by and waves at you.

This is your second spell in Formula 1. Do you think that overall F1 has improved or gone backwards?

John Slater, New Zealand

It's actually my third spell in F1. Jaguar, Red Bull, Haas. I actually had a year out and came back to Red Bull after Jaguar. So, John Slater from New Zealand... I won't say anything bad about him in case he motherf***s me on the internet!

I don't think F1 has gone backwards, it evolves all the time and it's moving so fast. If you look at an F1 car from 10 years ago it appears old, even a car from five years ago. It's part of F1, always moving ahead. It's amazing, but the fans don't get to know a lot about the technology. We should make it more visible to the fans.

What was it like working alongside Niki Lauda at Jaguar?

Rhys Cooper, UK

When I was a kid, he was a hero as the second Austrian (after Jochen Rindt) to win the championship. Then being able to work with him and establish a very good friendship was fantastic. You don't realise something until it's gone. He was very straightforward, there was never any hidden agenda. I enjoyed his company a lot and I feel honoured to have worked with him.

Hi Gunther, which Hollywood actor could play your role in a movie?

Stevo Eisele, Slovenia

GS: [Laughs] We need to ask a Hollywood producer because I have no idea. I don't know any actors, so I don't want to answer. A clown could play me!

F1R: Patrick Dempsey?

GS: I don't know him and I don't want to say Patrick Dempsey as I don't want people to believe I think I'm as good-looking as him. I'm an ugly f**k! [Laughs] I don't want to be arrogant, I don't need to be played...

How difficult is it managing Romain given his past record with incidents?

Garin Davies, UK

It's a new challenge every race weekend with him. He can put a lap down where you think, 'Where's that come from?!' to leaving the pitlane and going straight into the Armco. You've got everything there, so in my fourth year I don't get excited any more. Life is normal, my heart rate doesn't go up. Did that just happen? OK, well, let's put the new nose on and hope the damage isn't too bad...

Will you be replacing any of your drivers for next season?

Alexis Ferraris, Czech Republic

I don't know yet, between myself and [team owner] Gene Haas we will start to talk about that in due course. That's what we do each year, otherwise you waste a lot of time on theoretical stuff.

I'll go around and see who is available and look at who is or isn't an option. It doesn't take us more than two weeks to decide.

Are there any prospects for an American driver?

Larry Kessler, USA

There are, but it's difficult at the moment for American drivers to succeed in F1. There were a few who were not interested in F1 because it was better for them to stay and do NASCAR.

There is a lot of talent in NASCAR who could have been F1 drivers. It takes a lot of effort and discipline to come over to Europe. On July 4, ex-F1 driver Scott Speed came to my house and we spoke about it. He said that being American, he just didn't want it hard enough. You need to be so driven and he admitted he didn't try hard enough.

Gunther, you seem like a person who wears his heart on his sleeve. What I would like to know is, which driver has made you the most angry, and why?

Danny Teasdale, UK

Drivers will take this personally if I say this. I better not answer this. I know exactly who this is, but then I'll get a call from a lawyer!

What is the craziest thing a driver has ever said to you?

Scott Walschlager, USA

I worked with Colin McRae so a lot of stuff was said to me... And Eddie Irvine. Between the two of them, they said crazy stuff.

F1R: Probably not printable either?

GS: Some are printable. I remember Colin once saying to me, "I don't need luck, I've got talent."

F1R: Well, reversing it, what is the craziest thing you have said to a driver?

GS: You cannot print that one!

What is your hardest job in managing Haas?

Breffni McCarthy, Ireland

I don't know really, it's all hard. The biggest challenge is to get everyone working together, especially as we are split up over three countries. If there are some technical disagreements, which happens because engineers have big egos and they don't talk to each other anymore, you have to re-establish relationships.

Of the current schedule, which grand prix track is your personal favourite?

Mark Manweiler, USA

I personally always like Australia. I think it's because it is the first race of the season and I like the country as a place. Everyone is relaxed and your expectations are high. You think, competitively, you are great and then afterwards you realise how bad you are and how hard the season will be...

How do you feel as a new Netflix star?

Alicja Starzyk, Poland

I don't feel like a Netflix star, everyone tells me I am, but I haven't seen the documentary Drive to Survive and I don't want to see it for a few years. People tell me they enjoy it. I think it was good.

F1R: Has your wife seen it?

GS: Yes, she has - not my daughter.

What is the most annoying thing a driver can do, other than crash the car?

Rene Moller, USA

Complaining all the time...

F1R: In French?

GS: [Laughs]

What's your favourite swear word and why?

Piotr Atwik, Poland

You have to watch Netflix's Drive to Survive.

F1R: We nearly put 'Gunther F**king Steiner' on the question cards, like the guy on Twitter who parodies you. Have you seen it?

GS: Yes, I have seen it. The guy is pretty good!

What do you do in your spare time?

Steve Hockey, UK

Not a lot, I spend time with my family which is the most important thing for me to do as I'm away so much, especially with living in the States. I try to spend my time with them, but I don't have any real hobbies.

F1R: You don't go sky-diving for example?

GS: I'm far too old for that...

F1R: Golf?

GS: No, come on. Golf is too boring. I haven't got that attention span to walk and hit a ball forever. I'm lucky that my hobby is my job. I like what I do. I need to rest when I'm at home and spend time with my family.

Which team principal are you closest to in the paddock?

Becky Robson, UK

I would say Mattia Binotto. We have been friends for 15 years now. He's a nice guy. Like me...