Guenther Steiner Breaks Silence on His Shocking Departure from Haas F1 Team

In a candid revelation, former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has finally spoken about his unexpected exit from Formula 1. His departure, following a decade of dedication to the team, left the F1 community searching for answers.

Key Takeaways:

• Unexpected Exit: Steiner’s departure from the Haas F1 team was sudden, following a decision by team owner Gene Haas. This move came shortly after the exit of technical director Simone Resta, shaking up the team’s leadership.
• Reasons Behind the Departure: Gene Haas’s desire to improve the team’s performance, notably their position in the Constructors’ Standings, is believed to have influenced the decision not to renew Steiner’s contract.
• Steiner’s Perspective and Future Plans: In his first public appearance since leaving F1, Steiner shared that he was informed of the non-renewal of his contract via a phone call. Looking ahead, he expressed a desire to be involved in meaningful projects and to take some time to relax after a decade with Haas.

After a decade-long tenure as the principal of the Haas Formula 1 team, Guenther Steiner’s sudden departure on January 10 took many by surprise. The news came in the wake of technical director Simone Resta’s exit and was followed by the appointment of Ayao Komatsu as the new team principal. This series of events signified a significant shift in the American team’s leadership.

Gene Haas, the team owner, has been open about his ambitions to improve the team’s standing, especially after a disappointing performance in 2023. This ambition for progress likely played a role in the decision not to extend Steiner’s contract, a move that Steiner himself confirmed in a recent appearance at the Autosport International show in Birmingham. He recounted the straightforward nature of his departure, saying, “It was a phone call, he [Gene] called me and said that he does not want to extend the contract which was up at the end of the season and that was it.”

Steiner’s frankness continued as he discussed the changes in Formula 1 and his waning interest in Haas’s future plans. He noted, “Since we have had this model, Formula 1 has changed a lot. We saw during COVID how much bigger it grew. How much different it got with the budget cap, how we used the budget cap. If you look at all the other teams, they were all gearing up. They are not gearing up now. They started to gear up, some three years ago, some years ago, some last year. I don’t know Gene Haas’ plans for the future. He didn’t share them with me, he doesn’t have to, by the way. I’m actually not really interested in it anymore.”

Looking forward, Steiner expressed a preference for engaging in projects with potential rather than just holding a position. He humorously remarked, “I don’t know if Formula 1 wants me! Now at the moment, I’m very chilled out about the situation. I’m not unhappy and I know a lot of people, I’ve got a lot of friends and for me just hanging around for a year doing the odd job, that does it for me. If something interesting comes along, which challenges me, yes, but just staying in Formula 1 just to do a job, maybe is not what I want to do.”

Steiner concluded, emphasizing his desire for meaningful involvement and a well-deserved break after a strenuous decade. “I like to be with people but it needs to be something where I can see a future in it. I don’t just want to go there and then move on to the next thing. I want to do something where you can achieve something and you try to get somewhere and then I will do it. But as I said, at the moment, I just want to chill out. It was 10 tough years behind me. I’m still good. I’ve got plenty of stuff to do.”

Steiner’s departure marks the end of an era for Haas F1 Team, and his next steps are eagerly anticipated by the Formula 1 community. His experience and personality have left an indelible mark on the sport, and his future endeavors will be watched with keen interest.