Guenther Steiner really did become a beloved celebrity in Formula 1. It’ll be fair to say that he is one of the biggest reasons why most people look forward to watching a new season of Drive To Survive. He has been the face of the Haas F1 team and it’s hard to imagine the team without Steiner. But in an unfortunate turn of events, Gene Haas, the team’s owner, has decided not to renew his contract beyond 2023 and Ayao Komatsu will now be the new team principal. In response to this shocking decision from Gene Haas, Formula 1 legend, Damon Hill has shared his thoughts on Steiner’s departure from what he called his very own team.

Guenther Steiner was not only the team principal, but he was also considered to be the driving force behind the very existence of the team. It was he who approached Gene Haas to form F1’s newest American team and it was he who saved the team from going extinct during the COVID pandemic. Gene Haas even stopped investing in his team, but Steiner kept the team afloat with strategic partnerships. He has single-handedly shaped the team’s identity both on and off the track. But his sudden departure now raises the question about the team’s future in F1.

Damon Hill suggests that Haas belonged to Guenther Steiner more than its owner

While the news of Guenther’s departure came as a shock to the whole community, discontent had been building up within the team for some time. There was quite a bit of tension going on behind the scenes mainly due to the management and investment decisions of Gene Haas. And it looks like the clash between Steiner and Haas regarding the team’s potential in Formula 1 and how the team operates reached its peak.

While the 58-year-old Steiner cared deeply about the team’s growth with steady investments, Gene Haas thought that the team had underachieved and could perform better without additional resources. The internal rife is evident in the official announcement from the team. Haas emphasized efficiency and maximizing potential, while Steiner’s successor, Ayao Komatsu, suggested restructuring the existing structure for better results.

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In a recent clip from the Sky Sports F1 podcast Damon Hill spoke about Guenther’s departure. When asked how would Ayao Komatsu do any better if Gene is not willing to invest in the team, Hill said, “I don’t know, and don’t forget Guenther was actually one of the masterminds of putting the whole thing together in the first place as well where Gene [Haas] was really the investor that he got in on board… So you know, actually you could say it was his team. But he didn’t own it and… He’s getting a lot of attention and distractions… He was talking about this TV series that they’re planning and stuff and maybe that was too much for some people.”

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It’s evident that Gene Haas and Guenther Steiner’s vision for the team didn’t align. But why is it that Gene Haas thinks the team doesn’t need more resources?

Haas is serving Gene Haas’ purpose just fine

For Gene Haas, the team’s existence was closely tied to serving as a platform for promoting the Haas Automation brand. And whether the team does well or not, it is serving its purpose to promote Gene’s business. This gives us an insight into Haas’s approach towards the team’s financial investments and success.

Haas has been content with allowing the team to exist without wanting to invest or sell it. In Formula 1’s cost-cap world, with better prize money distribution for underperforming teams and crucial partnerships facilitated by Steiner, the team does not need exceptional achievements to justify its existence. However, participating just for the sake of it in a sport like Formula 1 isn’t the most appealing existence.

Whether or not Komastu will be able to better the team will ultimately reflect who amongst Gene Haas or Guenther Steiner was right. Share your thoughts and insights about this development in the comments below.

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