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Guenther Steiner Finally Reveals Rift With Gene Haas That Caused His Firing From Haas

Published 03/03/2024, 7:21 AM EST

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With the Formula 1 2024 season underway, many fans have been noticing Guenther Steiner missing at the Haas Garage. After the former team principal was fired from his role at Haas Racing, the Italian moved on to become a pundit for German broadcaster RTL. This is good news for Steiner fans who would have otherwise missed his cheerful personality. But that draws the question, what does this mean for his relationship with Gene Haas?

Things didn’t end well for Guenther Steiner and a lot of his relationship with Gene Haas will never remain the same. Although they remain friends, Steiner has now come forth to talk about the problems that he faced with pushing Haas forward.

Not enough infrastructure, according to Guenther Steiner

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Guenther Steiner was recently interviewed by Sky Sports, where he spilled the beans on his final season with Haas. The Italian former team principal said, “The last year, a year and a half was difficult because you could see all the other teams when the budget cut came in place. Everybody invested their money in the infrastructure of their company just to move forward, and we didn’t do that.”

Frustrated with not being able to do what he thinks is best for the team, he added, “And at some stage, you need to say what you think about things.” But understanding his role in the team, Steiner said, “Obviously, I don’t own the team. I cannot make this decision. I haven’t got the money, and Gene wants to do it his way. And obviously, he didn’t like what I had to say. Therefore, my contract was un-extended, which I was okay with.”

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Guenther Steiner spent just under a decade with the team before getting sacked for the differences in his opinion. In the end, as a team principal, he did his job by suggesting what he thinks is best and Gene Haas has his take on it as the boss. There is no doubt that the need to invest in infrastructure is important for each team, but at the end of the day, Gene Haas has a say on what he wants to spend his money on. But now that the two have parted ways, let’s take a look at what they achieved together.

How was Guenther Steiner’s journey with Haas?

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It has been a difficult 9 years with Haas for Steiner as the team has had a tough time getting placed well on the grid. The team achieved their best standing on P5 in 2018 but things started to go downhill for them again.

via Reuters

Ever since 2014, the Italian team principal has had a difficult time pushing the team to place higher. The team has always been found at the back of the grid with them finishing 10th in 2021 and 2023. Although the team is relatively new and underfunded, they have seen some high moments over the years.

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But ultimately the journey came to an end for Guenther Steiner as a team principal as he embarks on his new role as a pundit, and we wish him all the best. In a tribute to everything Guenther Steiner has done for the team, and his fans, drop your favorite memory of the Italian in the comments below.

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Written by:

Viren Mirpuri

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Viren Mirpuri is an F1 Writer at EssentiallySports. With a Degree in Mass Media and a Specialization in Journalism, Viren is known for his speedy race day coverage outside of discussing the engine technicalities. Whether he's dissecting the latest technical innovations or unraveling the drama on and off the track, he ensures that his readers stay engaged and informed.
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Edited by:

Akash Pandhare