Günther Steiner returns to F1 as TV consultant

Günther Steiner, well-known in the world of Formula 1 for his role as team principal of Haas, is embarking on a new chapter in his career. He has recently accepted to become a TV consultant for the German channel RTL, covering seven races of the 2024 season starting this Thursday in Bahrain, as well as for the Australian channel Channel 10 during the Australian Grand Prix. Steiner is also in talks for other TV projects.

Fired from the head of Haas at the beginning of the season to his great surprise, it is now the former race engineer of Romain Grosjean, Ayao Komatsu, who replaces Günther Steiner.

His commitment with RTL will mainly focus on the second half of the season, but it will start as of this week, with the Bahrain Grand Prix. He will also cover events in Hungary, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Azerbaijan, and Las Vegas. Steiner, 58, has already had a taste of the television world as an expert during a NASCAR event at COTA last year, an experience that he found rewarding and which prepared him for his new roles.

Back then, I didn’t know enough about it, and when people said, let’s try to do this, I said ‘Yes, let’s try.’ Now, I’m really glad I did because at least I know roughly what it involves because when I went to Austin last year, I had no idea how to do television because I had never done it before. It was a good experience, it was doing something different. I think I can do a decent job. Steiner commented on his first role as a commentator last year.

In an interview with Autosport, Steiner also explained how the opportunity arose quickly and how he was chosen to bring a new breath to the RTL program. He emphasized his desire to remain professional in his analyses, without seeking to unnecessarily criticize drivers or teams, while being ready to express his opinion in a factual manner.

« Everything fell into place very quickly. They sent me a text message last Sunday, asking if I was interested. We spoke on Monday, they had a meeting among themselves, and on Tuesday, they asked me if I could do it. I said, ‘Of course, why not?’. They were just looking for someone, and I think they want to rejuvenate their program a bit, not always the same people, and they just thought of my name, and I spoke with them. »

As I always say, my life is always full of surprises. When people asked me in January, ‘What are you going to do now?’ I said, ‘I don’t worry about what I’m going to do. I mean, I don’t know what’s going to happen.’ And these things happened.

Steiner is known to the general public for his frank-speaking language and his Netflix interventions worthy of a novel. This character trait will be controlled, but he will still give his opinion with complete honesty, assures the former Haas director.

As long as you remain professional about it, you are entitled to have an opinion; you can’t just say everything is good,” he explains. “I will try to stay factual. I never start with the intention of upsetting anyone. In fact, I’m the opposite. I don’t want to upset anyone else in my life. I do it without even trying!”

I have an opinion, I form it without trying, but I have an opinion and it’s not against this person. I’m not the kind of person who judges people, I just explain the facts. I’m the last person to judge others.

First test for Günther Steiner as a consultant starting this Thursday for the free practice sessions of Formula 1 which resumes this week.