Passionate Steiner feels no resentment: 'It was hopeless at Haas'

It is an unusual day for Steiner. "Just this interview, I have nothing else," the Italian tells me from a hotel room in London, putting his hands behind his head. Just recovering from currently busy times; with the release of his book and the book tour in Great Britain, with theatres full everywhere. Later, when the exclusive interview with GPblog is over, Steiner has decided that taking a tour around the British capital will follow. No doubt he will be greeted by many, who will also ask for an autograph or a selfie. Steiner endures it all without moaning.

Steiner looks back on time at Haas

Guenther Steiner, a superstar since he appeared in the Netflix series Drive to Survive as the most self-authentic figure in the F1 paddock. It is the new life of Steiner, who did not have his contract renewed by Haas F1 - the team he himself had built from the absolute bottom to the top - at the end of 2023, after years filled mostly with challenges, disappointments, frustrations and certainly some highlights. In his second book called Unfiltered, Steiner talks extensively about that period at Haas and in doing so, the passion for working as a team principal and in Formula 1 splashes off every page.

Therefore, it sounds strange when Steiner says he does not miss working at Haas. "When you get to a point where you know you've got the passion, you put the work in and you know how to do it, but you cannot do it, you're basically one arm behind your back, then the passion goes away." Indeed, Steiner not only had to battle against the other F1 teams, with far more experience and people available to them, but also against Gene Haas, the owner of Haas F1.

'Haas F1 went in the wrong direction'

'Frustration' is the word Steiner would use to describe the situation when he analyses Haas' last years. "I would say it started four years [ago], but I didn't recognise it four years ago. And that's why I say, I should have left in ‘22, the team. It started with Covid. I saw everybody, they saw the challenges but they took the opportunity. We just saw challenges and didn't take the opportunity. We went the other way, we cut everything down, we closed everything down, and we had to restart. But the restart was not like 'let's restart' but let's spend less money."

In his new book, Steiner explains how he had a feeling that Gene Haas was about to dissolve the team. On several occasions, the Italian almost begged him to continue, he explained in his book. "I think he wanted to shut down if I wouldn't have found the money, because in ‘20 we didn't use the wind tunnel. And in F1, but once you start not to use the wind tunnel, that's a good sign," says the Italian in his London hotel room.

So why did Gene Haas not sell the team anyway? "Ego," Steiner assumes. "I'm a quite a good entrepreneur. So I said, if I find money and he can sell a small share of the team and that money we use to invest. So I found an investment company, they made an offer - a good offer - but he refused."

Departure felt 'like relief' to Steiner

Why didn't Haas accept the proposal? Steiner repeats, "Because it's ego. He thinks it's his way or no way." So actually - says the Italian - Gene Haas saying goodbye to Steiner actually felt "like relief". "I said to my wife, 'I'm free now.' I don't have this block anymore. I don't want to let the team down but I don't really want to do it anymore. Because I'm going, it's a way to nowhere. I put so much energy and effort in and I know I'm treading water. It's every day, it's not every day, every month, every year, it's the same battle. The battle is not changing."

Many others would be disappointed that they had to leave their baby - as Steiner did most of the work to kick start Haas F1 - under such circumstances. Steiner himself thinks differently. "A little bit, yes, a little bit [it is my child], but after a frustration of years, it's fine. I'm not saying it because it's sour grapes, no, I'm fine with it, I did it, I know what I did, not many people did that. So I can say I'm proud of what I did, but I'm not hurt because my life continues, I'm still upbeat, I’ve got a lot of things to do. I do a lot of things. I enjoy life. So it's not a problem to me."

"I didn't do anything wrong, in my opinion. I didn't steal money. I didn't do anything to the people. The people still like me. I go to Formula 1, you see. They respect me for what I do. I mean, I'm not perfect. So, but it's one of those things. I'm happy, I have no regret. Absolutely not."