Guenther Steiner axed as Haas F1 team principal as replacement announced
Gunter Steiner pitched the idea of a Formula 1 team to owner Gene Haas more than a decade ago and has been team president since he first entered the sport.
Gunther Steiner joined Haas before the team moved to F1 and has been team principal since it began racing in 2016.
Gunther Steiner has been replaced as Haas team boss.
The 58-year-old American is leaving the team he founded after receiving financial backing from owner Gene Haas. He has been at the helm of the team since its participation in Formula 1 was confirmed.
At the time of his departure, Steiner was the network’s third team chief. Only Red Bull boss Christian Horner and Mercedes’ Toto Wolff have been in their roles for as long.
He will be replaced by Ayao Komatsu, who had been one of Steiner’s top lieutenants during his tenure. The 47-year-old has been with Haas since the team began competing in F1 and has been a regular in the paddock for 20 years.
With private teams struggling to make ends meet under Steiner, the team has established itself on the F1 grid. The huge popularity of the sport and the introduction of budget limits allowed Haas to become a commercially viable business.
F1’s rise in popularity coincided with Steiner’s rise to fame. He was one of the standout characters on the Netflix series Drive to Survive, becoming a new fan favorite for his honesty and penchant for delivering memorable lines.
As its popularity grew, it also benefited the team from a marketing standpoint and opened up new business opportunities. However, it was not enough to satisfy the owners who were fed up with the team’s poor performance on the track.
Team USA finished last in the 2023 Constructors’ Championship for the second time in three years with 12 points. Despite a team of experienced drivers, including the powerful Kevin Magnussen and newly hired Nico Hulkenberg, the team failed to produce a competitive car.
The lack of productivity was echoed in Gene Haas’ statement when Steiner’s resignation was announced. “I would like to thank Gunther Steiner for his hard work over the past 10 years and wish him all the best for the future,” he said.
“It was clear that we needed to improve our performance to move forward as an organization. With the appointment of Ayao Komatsu as Group President, we have fundamentally placed technology at the heart of our operations.
