via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Australian Grand Prix – Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia – March 30, 2023 Haas team director Guenther Steiner arriving at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit REUTERS/Darrian Traynor
A laptop, a vision, and an indomitable spirit. These might be the ingredients one wouldn’t typically associate with the creation of an F1 team, particularly in a sport renowned for its complex logistics and billion-dollar budgets. Yet, as the F1 circus gears up for the Austin Grand Prix, an unassuming team principal reminisces about a dinner that changed the trajectory of American presence in Formula One. The journey to this peak is often more exhilarating than a lap on the track. And when Guenther Steiner reminisces about Haas F1’s early days, it’s a tale worth hearing.
Stepping into their headquarters in Kannapolis, you’d almost think you wandered into a NASCAR hangout. That’s because most of the buzz is around Stewart-Haas Racing’s NASCAR activities. An almost silent F1 space in North Carolina? Yep, that’s the quirky Haas charm. But rewind to 2010, and a dinner table story unfolds. F1 was eager for an American team, US F1, with bases in NASCAR-rich Charlotte, N.C. Heck, even YouTube’s co-founder, Chad Hurley, was backing it! But, money woes hit, their car stalled, and despite Steiner’s potential rescue, the dream fizzled. Dive in as we peel back the layers on Steiner’s revelation on how the underdog Haas F1 Team took its baby steps, challenging conventions along the way.
via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Italian Grand Prix – Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy – September 3, 2023 Haas’ team principal Guenther Steiner ahead of the Grand Prix REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini
From those ashes, Steiner’s spark ignited. A quick chat with Haas co-president Joe Custer during the US F1’s assets auction turned into a Starbucks rendezvous. And just like that, over coffee, a fresh F1 story brewed. Steiner, taking a trip down memory lane, chuckles, “It was mainly Gene, Joe, and me. We kept things light and simple.”
Diving deep into the origins, Steiner shared a heartwarming tidbit that’s sure to surprise many: “Can you do it now without all this stuff? Maybe not. But at the time, we’d never employed a lawyer to get a license. The license application, I did it all myself. You know, a laptop, nothing else. It was a laptop and me. …If I would need to do it now, I don’t know if I could keep it as simple.”
Haas F1 team is unlike any of the others.
How the team came together broke the status quo and set new precedents — and the dream all began after another prospective American team fell apart.@mwc13_3 on that dinner in 2010 🔗https://t.co/dd0TTdYTIS
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) October 13, 2023
From an idea over dinner to a successful F1 team, Haas’ journey is one for the books. Steiner’s candid insights show that in the glamorous world of F1, sometimes all you need is passion, a laptop, and a dream. So don’t ever undermine the resources you have, and most importantly, yourself.
And in classic American fashion, the Haas F1 team is turning heads and revving up their style game for the United States Grand Prix in Austin. Think of it as a ‘fashion show meets high-speed drama’ – but on the race track!
Homecoming with a dash of stars, stripes, and speed for Guenther Steiner and Co.!
Austin’s track will be graced by Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen, sporting some fabulous new threads. Well, not them exactly, but their cars! To commemorate their home run (quite literally), Haas has whipped out a fresh ‘Stars & Stripes’ design, complete with a snazzy tagline – ‘We The People’. Yep, that’s your history lesson for the day, straight from the opening line of the U.S. Constitution.
Your first take on our special livery we’ll be running at this weekend's #USGP ⤵️#HaasF1 pic.twitter.com/qf4AaeNaPx
— MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) October 16, 2023
As they tick off a year of being besties with Haas, MoneyGram’s splashing their own festive touch on the car. But they’re keeping it a secret till the eve of the event. Talk about building suspense! Spotting a bright yellow emblem? That’s the Starlight Children’s Foundation shining bright on the rear wing, reminding us of the heartwarming bond between them and the Haas team.
But, it’s not all show and no go! Steiner spills the beans on some meaty upgrades for the weekend. “We’re giving the VF-23 an aerodynamic facelift, switching to what folks like to call the ‘Red Bull concept’. It’s a massive change!” he said (as per Formula1.com). And get this, all within budget because, in Steiner’s words, “earlier this season, we couldn’t find any performance sweet spots to tinker with.”
WATCH THIS STORY | F1 Drivers Trying Their Hand at Different Sports
Heading into their home turf, Haas sits ninth in the constructors’ pit, just a notch behind Alfa Romeo after the Qatar showdown. Will the blend of style and speed at Austin propel them further? Time, and a few laps, will tell!
Written by
Edited by
