Guenther Steiner fires stinging F1 failure claim at Gene Haas

Guenther Steiner frowns while in Haas uniform — Photo: © IMAGO

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Departed F1 star fires stinging FAILURE claim at former boss

The former team principal is not happy about recent events

Tyler Rowlinson

Monday 5 February 2024 09:12 Updated: 12:39

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has fired back at his former boss Gene Haas for failing to adapt the team’s model in line with the new regulations.

Steiner held his position as team boss ever since the outfit's inception into the sport in 2016, working alongside new Haas principal Ayao Komatsu.

The 58-year-old became almost the face of the team for his personality – which came across incredibly strongly in Netflix’s documentary series Drive to Survive – as well as his exciting plan for the team, which helped them comfortably continue to operate in the midfield.

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But after finishing last in the constructors’ championship in 2023 with just 12 points, Haas made the decision not to renew Steiner’s contract and he was replaced by Komatsu.

Ayao Komatsu has replaced Guenther Steiner as Haas team principal for 2024

Guenther Steiner worked alongside Ayao Komatsu with the team between 2016-2023

Haas finished last in the constructors' championship in 2023

Steiner fires back at Gene Haas failure

Speaking with Auto Motorsport, Steiner hit back at his former boss Gene Haas, as he believed that the team’s failure was down to his unwillingness to change the model of preserving their budget under the new cost cap.

While teams around them changed their infrastructure, Haas did not, and this ultimately left them operating below the budget cap and created a conflict of interest between Steiner and the team’s hierarchy.

"I wanted to invest in the team, he didn't,” said the Italian.

“We simply had different views on how things should proceed.

"The way the team was set up, you couldn't ask for much more. This is not a criticism of the team, but the reality. The budget cap has completely changed Formula 1. Old structures no longer work.

“McLaren, Williams, Alpha Tauri have been investing for two years in the infrastructure so that they have more budget for the operational business. If you don't follow suit, you can't expect to be able to keep up."