"Don't go near Hamilton" - Kevin Magnussen handed British Grand Prix warning

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has warned Kevin Magnussen to steer clear of Lewis Hamilton this British Grand Prix weekend following a pair of costly incidents.

Hamilton and Magnussen have twice collided on the opening lap of recent races, with the Haas driver coming off worse on both occasions.

In both Spain and Canada, the contact was determined to be a racing incident with neither driver penalised. In Montreal, however, the stewards forced Magnussen to pit to replace a damaged front wing.

Asked if he will instruct Magnussen to change his approach to race starts, Steiner said: "No. I always say, if I have to manage the start and the first lap for the driver, it is difficult to do.

"They need to know what they are doing and I think they know what they are doing.

"It [contact] can happen. Kevin knows now, third time, don't go near Hamilton because, to be honest, both times, he has paid the consequences and normally that doesn't happen.

"But if I have to tell a driver that you have to do this and this at the start because the start could end up, I don't know."

Steiner - Drivers cannot control other cars

There is a saying in motorsport that a race cannot be won on the first lap, but it can be lost.

Despite this, Steiner added he will not instruct Magnussen to tone down his attacking style in the early stages.

"You can tell them what to do, to go slow," added Steiner. "Yeah, try telling them to go slow at the start.

"You know where you will end up and maybe somebody bumps into you.

"It is one of those things. I have been doing this for long enough and I tell the guys to do the best job they can and keep out of trouble.

"But can they guarantee it? No way. You are not in control of the other 19 cars."

Additional reporting by Ian Parkes

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Max Verstappen ally claims bad Red Bull start has triggered F1 champion's fury

• 52 minutes ago

Lewis Hamilton out, Oscar Piastri's big mistake and a sliding doors F1 moment

• 1 hour ago

Christian Horner in ‘Aston Martin meeting’ as Newey replacement speculation rages

• 2 hours ago

Max Verstappen F1 ally 'approached by Aston Martin' in shocking twist over Adrian Newey replacement

• 3 hours ago

F1 champion admits getting caught with ‘sneak peek’ at Adrian Newey’s sacred notebook

• Today 19:43

Kimi Antonelli's father had 'clear the air talks' with Mercedes after F1 absence

• Today 18:55