The Haas F1 team gained significant popularity courtesy of the Netflix docuseries, ‘Drive to Survive‘ Team Principal Guenther Steiner‘s straightforward approach won over viewers since the first season of the show. However, the 58-year-old was sacked by team owner Gene Haas before the start of the 2024 F1 season. Now, Steiner has reportedly confessed the reason for his exit.
Previously, Guenther Steiner had claimed that he was in disagreement with Gene Haas regarding the future of the team. The 58-year-old demanded more investment into the facilities while Haas believed that his team needed to extract more pace from its current set-up.
Now, Dutch TV presenter Jack Plooij has claimed that Steiner admitted the real reason behind his departure. Plooij had a phone call with the ex-Haas team boss shortly after his exit. However, the two were not allowed to discuss the main cause of his exit on that call. Nevertheless, Guenther Steiner sent a message to the Dutchman after the conversation.
Guenther and I spoke earlier in the week, but we were not allowed to ask how it actually went with Haas and what it would do. But then he sent me a message, allowing me to tell what happened. Jack Plooij said on Race Cafe (H&T: FormulaPassion.it)
Steiner claimed that he had found a $20 million sponsor for the team. However, the 58-year-old wanted to own shares of the American squad. Gene Haas refused Guenther Steiner’s request and this led to the Italian-American’s controversial exit. The 58-year-old will take up TV punditry with RTL for the 2024 season.
Guenther found a 20 million sponsor, but he told Gene Haas he wanted team actions to stay and keep the relationship going. Haas didn't accept though, and so Steiner himself left the team.
Guenther Steiner played a pivotal role in Haas F1 team’s survival
Steiner was the person who managed to make Gene Haas’ F1 ambitions a reality almost a decade ago. Initially, Haas wanted to run customer Ferrari cars. However, FIA and F1 blocked such a possibility. Subsequently, Guenther Steiner signed a deal with Ferrari for all non-listed parts as well as partnering up with Dallara. This allowed the project to join the F1 grid in 2016.
The American team has struggled to survive for the majority of its existence in the sport. Steiner’s gamble on Rich Energy was a massive PR disaster for the team in 2019. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic almost made Gene Haas pull the plug on the project. Nevertheless, Guenther Steiner brought in enough funding through Nikita Mazepin‘s Uralkali to keep the team afloat in difficult times.
Unfortunately, Guenther Steiner will no longer serve as the Haas F1 team boss. The 58-year-old has been succeeded by Ayao Komatsu. Komatsu’s views over the team’s future are more in-line with team owner Gene Haas. As such, it seems that the American team might have a smoother year in the upcoming season.
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