Guenther Steiner: “it’s always a little bit of a surprise”

Guenther Steiner spoke today for the first time after leaving Haas F1 Team at Autosport International 2024 where he discussed all things Formula One and his exit from the American team.

The ex-Haas team principal started by thanking the Haas team and fans:

“I didn’t have the chance to say thank you to a few people when I left Haas F1.” Said Guenther.

“I would just like to thank all of the team members, which I couldn’t give a proper goodbye to when I left, I do it this way.

“Obviously thanks to all of the fans who supported us when I was there it was fantastic.”

Steiner had been a part of the team since 2014 when Haas announced him in the team principal role.

There’s been highs in that period with a fifth-place championship finish in 2018, and their highest finish of fourth in Austria also in 2018.

But there have also been great lows in the last couple of years with 10th-place finishes in the contractor’s championship in 2021 and 2023.

So, between Christmas and New Year Steiner was made aware his contract wouldn’t be renewed:

“It was a phone call, he called me and said he doesn’t want to extend the contract which was up at the end of the season and that was it.” Said Steiner.

“I don’t know a surprise, it’s always a little bit of a surprise, but in that event he owns the team he can do what he wants, it’s his decision.”

Haas is also known for its budget approach to Formula 1 compared to others in the field, which he doesn’t believe necessarily fits:

“I don’t know if there are changes or not, Formula 1 since we entered the sport ten years ago when we started, Formula 1 has changed a lot, it could’ve been poor to spend.”  Said the Italian.

“Everybody is getting stronger, investing a lot in the future, cause Formula 1 I think is in a very good rut the way it is going at the moment.

“The model he (Gene Haas) started with in the beginning I think was a very good model, but maybe it’s not that kind of element anymore.”