Former Haas Formula One team principal Guenther Steiner has likened his role in the paddock to an 'addiction' and revealed he would consider returning for the right project. The 61-year-old, who helped establish Haas F1 Team in 2016 alongside Gene Haas, spoke exclusively to the Daily Star Sport via 247bet about his departure and potential comeback.
Steiner Reflects on His Time at Haas
Steiner, who was axed as Haas team principal after the 2023 season, admitted he does not miss the job. 'I don't miss my role at Haas. I'm pretty happy to be gone from there, because the reasons why I left there are still there today,' he said. However, he acknowledged the stress of the role was part of the allure. 'When you do that job, you want that stress. Otherwise, you cannot choose to run an F1 team and not have stress. It's almost an addiction to this when you are in it.'
Life After Haas: MotoGP and Television Work
Steiner now serves as CEO of the Red Bull KTM Tech3 MotoGP team, a role he describes as a 'project' and a 'mission.' He also remains involved in F1 through television work, which keeps him connected to the sport. 'With Formula 1, I'm still at so many races with TV work, so I still see all the familiar faces who I might have missed,' he explained.
Conditions for a Return to F1
While Steiner is content in his current position, he left the door open for a return to Formula 1 under specific circumstances. 'If there is a project out there, I would consider it. Not a job. I don't want just a job, you know, I always need projects. I need a mission,' Steiner said. He emphasized that he would not return merely for a title: 'I would not go in just for the job title. I don't need that anymore.'
Steiner's Legacy and Future Prospects
Steiner, who previously served as managing director of Jaguar Racing and technical operations director of Red Bull Racing, became a fan favorite through his appearances on Netflix's 'Drive to Survive.' Now a part-owner of the MotoGP team, he is focused on building its future. 'I need to do a good job to make it future-proof and to build it up. But if something similar comes up in Formula 1, I would consider it, yes,' he concluded.
