Guenther Steiner left Haas prior to the start of the 2024 Formula 1 season. In January, it was announced that Guenther Steiner would be stepping down from his position as Team Principal at Haas before the 2024 season following a disappointing performance last year, in which the team finished last in the Constructors’ Championship for the second time in three seasons. Steiner played a crucial role in the establishment of Haas, presenting the model to US manufacturer Gene Haas, and the team made its debut in 2016. Engineering chief Ayao Komatsu succeeded Steiner.
The team has revealed its first creation after Steiner’s departure, the VF-24 for the upcoming season, and Hulkenberg expressed surprise at Steiner’s decision. Hulkenberg received a phone call from Gene between Christmas and New Year, informing him of the unexpected news. Hulkenberg had several conversations with Steiner since then and always enjoyed speaking with him. They had a strong professional and personal relationship, and Steiner played a significant role in Hulkenberg’s return to Formula 1. While saddened by Steiner’s departure, Hulkenberg understands that it was Gene Haas’s decision, and they will move forward accordingly.
“[Guenther] made a substantial contribution to the team commercially, and it’s well known that the Netflix series became a huge success partly because of him. We will miss him as he was the driving force behind Haas, from its concept to its business plan. His departure leaves voids that we will need to fill, but our focus now is on the rebuilding process.”
According to the Source formula1news.co.uk