Guenther Steiner: I stayed two years too long at Haas

Guenther Steiner has questioned whether Gene Haas still has any interest in Formula 1, admitting he stayed "two years too long" as team principal. In a fresh critique of his former boss, Steiner said he never understood Haas's vision for the team.

Why it matters:

The comments expose a deep rift between the team's founder and its original leader, raising questions about Haas's long-term ambitions. The team has shown signs of recovery under Ayao Komatsu, but Steiner's words suggest the owner's commitment may be wavering.

The details:

• Steiner was instrumental in Haas's 2016 entry and led the team to a best-ever fifth in 2018, but they have since struggled, finishing last twice.
• He was replaced by Komatsu ahead of 2024; Haas now sits seventh in the 2026 Constructors' Championship, 40 points behind Racing Bulls and Alpine.
• Speaking on the High Performance Podcast, Steiner said: "Being in a sport, I want to be a winner. You don't just want to be a participant. At some stage maybe he lost interest in the sport."
• He admitted: "I think I stayed two years too long. What I should have done was just say, it's not working, I'm leaving now." He added that he was happy when the decision was taken away from him.
• Since leaving F1, Steiner has joined a consortium that owns the Red Bull KTM Tech3 MotoGP team.

What's next:

Steiner's remarks add to the narrative around Haas's direction. Komatsu has brought stability, but whether Gene Haas still has the passion to push for more remains an open question.