Why current Haas situation is the ‘worst thing’ that could have happened to Guenther Steiner

Follow us on Google Discover

Haas started the season with a setback when it announced it had parted ways with longtime team principal Guenther Steiner.

The Italian-American managed the team since it joined the grid in 2016. However, a series of poor results and a dip in form since the 2022 season led to team owner Gene Haas deciding to replace him in favour of Japanese engineer Ayao Komatsu.

Komatsu is the latest in a series of F1 engineers promoted to F1 team principal roles, followed by Bruno Famin at Alpine and James Vowles at Williams.

Since Steiner’s departure, Haas has enjoyed one of its best starts to a season to date having scored a total of 27 points between Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen. Compared to this time last year, Haas only had eight points on the board.

The team has also secured its future by signing ‘world-class’ 19-year-old Oliver Bearman and recently confirming that it will be extending its technical partnership with Ferrari until the 2028 season.

Discussing the change in leadership on the latest James Allen on F1 podcast, journalist Will Buxton believes “the worst thing” is happening to Steiner.

‘Worst thing’ happening to Guenther Steiner since leaving Haas

Although Haas has come under the spotlight for its tactics to secure points at some races, with some believing Magnussen should have received a ban after his driving in Miami. But it is on course to battle for fifth in the Constructors’ Championship having finished last in 2023.

The jump in positions would be worth millions of pounds in prize money at the end of the season, enabling the team to reinvest and become more sustainable amid rumours that Gene Haas is looking to sell the outfit.

Buxton believes this reflects badly on Steiner by comparison, after he only achieved the highest place of fifth in the Constructors’ during the 2018 season.

“I think the worst thing that could have happened to Guenther is happening, which is that Ayao has taken over and completely turned the team around and is doing a phenomenal job in a situation that Guenther had sworn blind was impossible to work with him,” said Buxton.

Haas’ future could look bright with rumoured Toyota link-up

The future of Haas could look bright given its commitment to Ferrari through to 2028 and the recent rumours that it could link up with Toyota through another partnership.

Toyota general manager of motorsport Masaya Kaji was spotted in the Haas garage during the British Grand Prix weekend, fuelling speculation that discussions are taking place between the two entities.

Any partnership would reportedly see Toyota start as a sponsor for the team and then later as a chassis maker partner, by allowing them to use their wind tunnel facilities in Cologne.

Commercially it would also make sense for the Japanese car maker, as it would relieve any burden of spending millions on an engine project while also gaining them significant exposure as F1’s global popularity increases.