Guenther Steiner speaks out on Haas team and money focus
- Guenther Steiner's contract as Haas F1 team principal was not renewed after a phone call with Gene Haas on December 29, 2023.
- The conversation revealed a disagreement over the team's performance and the need for increased investment.
- Steiner's departure underscores the ongoing challenges in Formula 1 regarding the balance between financial considerations and competitive success.
Guenther Steiner, the former team principal of Haas F1, experienced an abrupt end to his decade-long tenure in Formula 1. On December 29, 2023, while shopping in an Italian supermarket, he received a phone call from Gene Haas, the team's owner, who informed him that his contract would not be renewed. This decision followed a disagreement over the team's performance and investment strategies, highlighting a fundamental clash in their approaches. Steiner believed that more investment was necessary to improve the team's performance, while Haas felt that the team's results had declined. The conversation, which lasted only six minutes, marked a significant turning point in Steiner's career and raised questions about the future direction of the Haas team in the competitive landscape of Formula 1. Steiner's candid remarks about Haas's focus on financial aspects over sporting success reflect broader tensions within the sport regarding investment and performance priorities.