Guenther Steiner’s life outside of F1 from net worth to nationality

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Guenther Steiner is a modern cult hero in Formula 1 thanks to the Netflix hit ‘Drive to Survive’, so here is all that you need to know about the former team principal of Haas.

The iconic engineer gained worldwide fame through a starring role on ‘Drive to Survive’ with Steiner renowned for his quotes. His popularity exploded once Netflix put a spotlight behind the scenes of Formula 1’s paddock in 2018 with his brutal honesty amid Haas’ issues adored.

Steiner worked as the team principal of Haas from the American team’s first F1 race in 2016 through 2023. Owner Gene Haas chose to let Steiner leave when his contract expired as the squad ended the 2023 season 10th and last in the constructors’ championship on 12 points.

Guenther Steiner led the Haas F1 team from 2014 to 2023

Haas hired Steiner as the team principal in 2014 as he looked to establish an American team in Formula 1. The Haas brand would debut in the pinnacle of motorsport come 2016. But an impressive fifth place in the 2018 teams’ standings was the best that Steiner would oversee.

His move to Haas in 2014 also marked Steiner’s return to Formula 1, having left the paddock in 2006. Steiner first joined the travelling circus of F1 in 2001 as the team principal of Jaguar until 2003. But he returned to Milton Keynes in 2005 after Red Bull had purchased the team.

Steiner remained in Formula 1 with Red Bull until 2006 when he agreed to move to America as Dietrich Mateschitz sought to establish a Nascar squad. He also remained in the role until 2008 to add another motorsport discipline to a career which he started in the world of rally.

Mazda afforded Steiner his maiden position in motorsport as a mechanic in their World Rally Championship team in 1986. He even moved to Belgium to take up the role before finishing an engineering degree. Yet he lasted two years in the role before Steiner joined Top Run Srl.

Top Run hired Steiner as their assistant team manager before he moved to Jolly Club from 1991 to 1996. Then, Prodrive gave Steiner a call to work as their manager, which led to the 1997 European Rally title. He then joined M-Sport and became the director of engineering.

It was at M-Sport under the Ford banner that Steiner also worked with Rally legends, Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz Sr. But who is Steiner outside of motorsport and what is the former Haas team chief-cum-Netflix superstar’s life really like? Here is everything you need to know.

What is Guenther Steiner’s age? When was he born?

At the time of writing, Guenther Steiner is 59 years old and was born on April 7, 1965. He has also worked in a motorsport-related job for in excess of 35 years, having first started out by joining Mazda as a mechanic for the brand’s World Rally Championship (WRC) team in 1986.

Where was Guenther Steiner born? What is his nationality?

Steiner was born in the South Tyrol municipality of Merano in Italy on April 7, 1965 and he is also the son of a butcher. But the engineer further holds dual citizenship with America and is fluent in German and English, as well as Italian. Thus, many presume that Steiner is German.

Guenther Steiner’s net worth

Steiner was the fifth richest Formula 1 team principal with a net worth of $5m (£4m) before parting with Haas, according to Sportskeeda. The engineer earned $1m-per-year (£15k-a/w) in charge of the American-owned F1 team, prior to his contract expiring in December 2023.

Guenther Steiner released a book called ‘Surviving to Drive’ in 2023

As well as working in motorsport since his days in WRC in 1986, Steiner also released a book in 2023 titled, ‘Surviving to Drive’. The name references his iconic presence in the hit Netflix documentary series, ‘Drive to Survive’. Steiner became a cult F1 hero from the annual series.

The book offers a comprehensive look at the 2022 Formula 1 season for Haas from Steiner’s point of view. Haas ended the 2022 term eighth in the constructors’ championship as Kevin Magnussen scored 25 points and Mick Schumacher posted a further 12 points for their tally.

Where does Guenther Steiner live? Does he still have a house in North Carolina?

Guenther Steiner mainly lives in Mooresville, North Carolina after moving to America back in 2006. He also lives with his wife, Gertraud, and daughter, Greta. Steiner’s home is also close to Haas’ factory in Kannapolis, North Carolina. But Haas are also based in England and Italy.