Steiner questions Gene Haas' commitment to F1 after years of midfield stagnation

Guenther Steiner says he still cannot grasp what Gene Haas wants from Formula 1, suggesting the team owner has simply lost interest in chasing real success. Speaking on the High Performance Podcast, the former Haas boss reflected on his 2024 departure and expressed frustration over a decade spent fighting for points rather than podiums.

Why it matters:

Haas arrived in 2016 with ambition but has stagnated since its fifth-place finish in 2018, never once reaching the podium. Steiner's blunt comments expose a team comfortable with midfield obscurity, raising uncomfortable questions about whether the American outfit still has the hunger to compete at F1's highest level.

The details:

• Steiner admitted he "stayed two years too long" at Haas, saying he should have left around late 2022 when he realized the team would not commit to the investment needed to escape the midfield.
• He said he tried repeatedly to sell his vision of podium contention to Gene Haas but failed, noting that by 2023 the relationship had deteriorated beyond repair.
• The Italian argued that merely participating was never enough for him. "I want a winner," he stated, criticizing the endless cycle of fighting for sixth to tenth place.
• Steiner speculated that Gene Haas either lost interest in the sport or believed the team should be run differently, leaving him unable to execute the changes required to challenge at the front.

What's next:

Steiner's remarks keep the spotlight on Haas as the team continues its search for a first podium. With no sign of a strategic shift on the horizon, his comments reinforce the perception that the American squad has settled for permanent midfield status rather than genuine contention.