F1 star gives Guenther Steiner huge SNUB heading into new season

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

F1 News & Gossip

F1 star appears to give Steiner huge SNUB heading into new season

The Italian recently lost his job

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Tuesday 27 February 2024 10:59 Updated: 18:29

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Haas driver Kevin Magnussen has said that there is a 'really good atmosphere' within the team heading into their first season without Guenther Steiner at the helm.

Steiner was shockingly let go as team principal of Haas during the off-season, following a 2023 season in which the outfit finished rock bottom of the constructors' standings.

The Italian had been with the team since their inception in the sport back in 2016, but had not overseen a finish higher than eighth in the championship since 2018.

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He has been replaced ahead of the upcoming season by Ayao Komatsu, who had also worked alongside Steiner since 2016.

Guenther Steiner was Haas' team principal from 2016-2023

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

Ayao Komatsu worked alongside Guenther Steiner for many years at Haas

Kevin Magnussen has spoken out about the atmosphere at Haas

Haas' change of atmosphere

2024 represents a big year in the future of Gene Haas' Formula 1 team, with both veteran drivers Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg out of contract at the end of the season.

Haas will need to decide whether to stick with experience or opt to go down a more youthful path, with former driver Mick Schumacher still waiting in the wings for another opportunity in F1.

Magnussen believes that the team are shaping up well heading into 2024, noticeably mentioning a change of atmosphere since Steiner's departure.

“We can be happy about testing. The objective was to work on long runs with high-fuel, racing-related stuff addressing our main issue from last year, and I think we’ve made progress," he said.

"I don’t want to raise expectations – I think we still have a lot of work to do – but we’ve gotten somewhere with the work we’ve done over the winter and these days at testing.

"I’m looking forward to seeing where we’ll be in the race, that’s always the final test to see if we’ve made progress or not. Everyone’s in good spirits, there’s a really good atmosphere in the team and an atmosphere I haven’t felt for a while.”