Gunther Steiner, the former Haas F1 team principal known for his memorable appearances on Netflix’s “Drive To Survive,” is set to make his return to the Formula 1 paddock – not on the pitwall but in a TV role. At 58, Steiner has been hired as a television pundit for RTL, a German broadcaster, for the upcoming 2024 season opener in Bahrain.
RTL, which has secured rights through a deal with Sky Deutschland to broadcast seven of the 24 race weekends live—including highlights like Hungary, Spa, Zandvoort, Monza, Baku, and Las Vegas—aims to leverage Steiner’s popularity and straightforward commentary style to enhance its Formula 1 coverage. “Gunther is a real character who is extremely popular among many Formula 1 fans,” Inga Leschek, an RTL executive, commented on the new addition to their team.
The departure of Steiner from Haas was marked by differences with team owner Gene Haas over the team’s direction, amidst speculation of Steiner seeking equity in exchange for bringing a $20 million new sponsor to the team—a proposal that ultimately saw him exiting the team. This move, however, has allowed RTL to gain an experienced and candid pundit for their Formula 1 broadcast team.
Steiner himself has promised to maintain a balance between being straightforward and impartial in his new role. “I will say what I think but remain neutral,” Steiner stated to the Osterreich newspaper, promising a blend of candid insights without favoritism, which is expected to add a unique flavor to RTL’s Formula 1 coverage for the selected race weekends.
