Audi F1 entry decision complicated by Guenther Steiner sacking

F1 Features

Audi F1 entry decision complicated by Steiner sacking

They are scheduled to be joining the sport in 2026

By Sam Cook.

Saturday 20 January 2024 17:57

The 2024 Formula 1 season hasn't yet started, but one of the most impactful decisions of the year has already been made - Guenther Steiner's ousting from Haas.

The news took fans completely off guard, with the American team never having gone into a season without the popular team principal at the helm.

Steiner had been a much-loved figure by fans, owing in large part to Netflix docu-series Drive to Survive, on which he appeared regularly to rant and swear.

However, he has since been replaced by Ayao Komatsu, a man who previously held the position of chief race engineer in the Haas hierarchy.

Gene Haas recently removed Guenther Steiner from his position as team principal with the Haas F1 team

Guenther Steiner has been replaced by Ayao Komatsu

Mattia Binotto has been linked with a move to the new Audi team

But what impact might this change, less than two months before the start of the 2024 season, have on the wider F1 world?

Audi's big team principal decision

Article continues under video

It has been confirmed that Audi will join the F1 grid in 2026, when new regulations will come sweeping into the sport.

They will take the place of the current Sauber-owned team (whose name seems to change so regularly it's hard to keep track), and have already started working on their engine for that first season.

While Valtteri Bottas has been pretty bullish about his chances of taking one of the seats with the ambitious new outfit, who his boss would be remains a mystery.

There are many unknowns when it comes to personnel at the new Audi team in 2026

There has been rumours that former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto is high on the list for the German team, but he appeared to knock them back last year when it was reported that he had called some of the Audi hierarchy 'clowns'.

Steiner or Binotto for Audi top job?

It remains to be seen whether the team will continue their pursuit of Binotto, or look elsewhere for the person to take them into their first season in F1.

Steiner's new availability may interest CEO Andreas Seidl, with the Italian a dab-hand when it comes to helping teams take their first steps in the sport.

He also has proved that he can make tough decisions, and appease big-name businessmen, with he and Gene Haas sharing an honest and strong working relationship during the Italian's tenure.

On the other hand, Binotto has race-winning experience, and with Audi's ambition being to become a big player in F1, his time at Ferrari could prove to be a useful asset.

Or, Audi could decide to take a completely different option, with former Toyota F1 star Cristiano da Matta also being linked with the job.

Haas Guenther Steiner Ayao Komatsu Gene Haas Mattia Binotto