Marko on F1 team boss' departure: 'Victim of his own popularity'

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Marko reacts to Steiner's departure from Haas
15 January at 08:00
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  • Matt Gretton
  • Editor-in-Chief

Team boss Guenther Steiner will no longer appear on the pit wall as Haas' team boss in 2024. The Italian was beloved by fans partly due to his appearance on the successful Netflix series Drive to Survive. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko thinks the departure may be due to his star status with the US team.

"Let's put it this way, anyone who becomes popular through a documentary series like Netflix's tends to fly up [in popularity]," Marko told F1 Insider. After his departure was announced, Steiner himself also reacted, revealing whether or not he believes it was due to the Netflix success.

Marko: 'Steiner became a victim'

"All I heard was that he wanted to change actions within the team," Marko explained. "That didn't appeal to owner Gene Haas anymore. It is also true in our sport that the team always comes before the individual. Steiner became a victim of his popularity," informed the 80-year-old man from Graz.

The Netflix series caused a big revival within Formula 1. Many new viewers and fans came through the sports documentary that gave a behind-the-scenes look at the top class of motorsport. After the 2021 season, as many as 4.1 million people watched Drive to Survive in the opening weekend after the launch of the respective season.