Steiner Admits Staying Too Long at Haas, Open to F1 Return

Guenther Steiner, former Haas F1 team boss, has finally opened up about his past in Formula 1. In an exclusive interview with the High Performance Podcast, Steiner admitted that he stayed in the team's leadership position for too long.

Steiner, who was a key figure behind the creation of Haas in the late 2000s, acknowledged that his relationship with team owner Gene Haas deteriorated over time. The peak came when he felt he stayed two years too long. "I think I stayed two years too long," he said.

The crucial moment came in the disastrous 2023 season. Steiner at the time urged the team to sacrifice that season to focus on building a more competitive car for the following year. Although the plan was followed and 2024 started stronger, Steiner was not retained. His position was taken over by Ayao Komatsu.

Baca JugaSzafnauer Ungkap Trik Lawas Jegal Microphone Drive to Survive

Steiner admitted that he should have been better at convincing the team owner about his vision. "What I should have done is convince the ownership to do, or sell them my vision better so they would do it," he said. However, he also felt relieved when the decision was taken out of his hands. "I was pretty happy that it was taken away," he added.

After leaving F1, Steiner has turned to MotoGP, leading a consortium that owns Tech3. Despite that, the Italian opened the door to a possible F1 return if an interesting project emerges. "I will come back if there is a project I like," he stated on the Up to Speed Podcast.

Steiner stressed that he would not return just for the sake of working. "It needs to be something which really challenges me," he concluded. This statement is sure to spark speculation in the paddock about whether any team will dare to hire this charismatic figure in the future.