After parting ways with Haas due to disagreements during the off-season, Gunther Steiner has remained a visible figure in the Formula 1 paddock. While he has taken up commentary duties for various broadcasters, Steiner has also been brokering a deal to become an ambassador for the forthcoming Miami Grand Prix.
Close associates of the 59-year-old, along with insiders at Red Bull, have indicated that Steiner is actively exploring an opportunity to spearhead a new F1 team project. He once held the position of technical operations director at Red Bull Racing, adding a layer of familiarity to his potential involvement.
“Sources are saying Steiner has already found an investor who wants to enter Formula 1,” reports the Japanese specialist portal as-web.jp.
It has been confirmed that Alpine, under the leadership of Bruno Famin and owned by Renault, is not on the market. Famin has categorically stated that the team is “absolutely not for sale.” In contrast, the RB team, recently rebranded from Red Bull’s second team, seems to be drawing significant interest. Dr Helmut Marko recently acknowledged the heightened interest. “There are a lot of interested parties,” he confirmed.
Decisions regarding the sale are pending, with shareholder input being crucial. Dr Marko elaborated on the situation, saying, “Ultimately it’s a shareholder decision. The price is high for a team, but nothing has been decided yet.”
Steiner himself has voiced a desire for a different operational approach compared to his tenure at Haas. “I’m not going to come back just to run a team if I don’t have that opportunity,” he expressed, emphasizing a desire to not only participate but compete vigorously and aim for wins. “I’ve spent so many years in F1 that I want to do more than just participate and score points every once in a while. I want to really compete and try to win.”
Amidst speculations, there are whispers that Red Bull might be enhancing the value of its second team to facilitate a future sale. Some believe this strategy aims to position the team favourably before potentially offloading it. This includes adhering to conditions for a buyer such as deploying the new Red Bull-Ford power unit from 2026 to 2030, integrating a Red Bull junior driver, and continuing the use of Red Bull’s wind tunnel facilities. “Some believe Red Bull is investing heavily in its second team in order to finish sixth this year, increase the price, and then sell,” detailed the report from as-web.jp.
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