Günther Steiner set for new role in motorsport
Former Haas boss Günther Steiner could soon be taking on a new role with a MotoGP team, an unexpected move to the motorcycle championship now under the ownership of Liberty Media, which also owns Formula 1.
Since his replacement by Ayao Komatsu as team principal at Haas, just before the 2024 F1 season, Günther Steiner no longer held a position in motorsport.
An opportunity in MotoGP?
The Italian is on the verge of making a comeback today, this time with the Tech3 team in MotoGP. Discussions are underway for him to participate in one way or another.
His exact role remains unclear, but Tech3 boss Hervé Poncharal mentioned several possible options: Günther Steiner could become an investor, partner, minority shareholder, or even play a role in seeking sponsors.
This return would put Günther Steiner back under the banner of Liberty Media, following the group’s acquisition of MotoGP last year.
His experience and direct, straightforward way of communicating reportedly attracted the Tech3 team, which is looking to stabilize in the premier motorcycle category.
Since his departure from Haas, Günther Steiner had limited himself to TV consultant roles, without any short-term prospect of returning to F1.
Read also: Flexi-gate: Steiner criticizes rival teams after McLaren double in Barcelona
Günther Steiner’s F1 journey
Günther Steiner’s career in Formula 1 dates back to the early 2000s with Jaguar, where he was appointed team principal.
He joined F1 after honing his skills in rallying, particularly in the European Championship with Prodrive. In 2000, he worked alongside legends Carlos Sainz Sr and Colin McRae as the director of engineering.
In 2001, he secured his first position as a team principal in F1 with Jaguar. In 2005, when Red Bull bought the team, Günther Steiner worked alongside Christian Horner. He eventually left his position at the end of the same year, shortly after Adrian Newey’s arrival.
He remains at Red Bull until the end of 2008, notably leading their NASCAR program.
In 2016, Günther Steiner returned to the forefront of F1 by taking the helm of the brand-new Haas team. Although Gene Haas is the owner, Günther Steiner quickly became the iconic face of the team, notably due to his colorful personality, highlighted by the Netflix series Drive to Survive.
Under his leadership, Haas achieved decent results, with a peak in 2018: a 5th place in the Constructors’ Championship. However, the performances then waned, eventually finishing last in the standings during his final season at the helm of the team.
His departure in 2024 would have been motivated by strategic disagreements with Gene Haas on the direction to take for the team.
