formula 1
Surprising separation: Steiner is no longer a Haas team boss
Günther Steiner is no longer team boss of the Haas racing team. photo
© Darron Cummings/AP/dpa
This also affects the only German pilot. Nico Hülkenberg’s racing team is separating from team boss Günther Steiner. He doesn’t even have a say in the message. That says a lot.
Team owner Gene Haas thanked the long-time team boss and wished Steiner all the best for the future. The position that Steiner has held since joining Haas in the 2016 season will be taken over by the Japanese Ayao Komatsu with immediate effect.
One can only speculate about the reasons for Steiner’s retirement. According to media reports, his contract expired at the end of last year. And team owner Haas did not feel compelled to extend it. The only German driver in the field is also affected by the personnel change, less than two months before the start of the longest season in Formula 1 history with 24 Grand Prix on the first weekend in March in Bahrain: Nico Hülkenberg.
He replaced compatriot Mick Schumacher as driver at Haas a good year ago. The son of record world champion Michael Schumacher made his debut in the premier motorsport class in the Haas in 2021. The car was mercilessly inferior back then, but in 2022 it was at least a little better. In addition to the team’s mistakes, Mick Schumacher also made a few mistakes and serious accidents. He did not receive any public support from Steiner at that time.
Under Steiner, Haas took last place in the constructors’ championship last season, which is important for the distribution of funds. The now fired team boss achieved cult status primarily through the series “Drive to Survive”.