The recent dismissal of Gunther Steiner from Haas F1 Team has been termed a “loss” for the sport by none other than Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. Steiner, who led the American team since its inception a decade ago, became a popular figure through his unique presence in the Netflix series ‘Drive to Survive.’
However, Haas owner Gene Haas decided to part ways with Steiner after the team’s last-place finish in the standings, despite a solid technical partnership with Ferrari. Steiner’s celebrity status, especially from Netflix, is rumored to have been a factor in this decision.
Wolff, speaking to Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport, acknowledged Steiner’s impact: “For Formula 1 this is a loss. Gunther is a personality who has become very popular and has brought a lot of benefit to the team and the brand, despite the results being disappointing.” Wolff recognized Steiner’s unique character, adding, “He is a great personality and we will miss him.”
Despite his praise, Wolff didn’t shy away from critiquing Steiner’s approach, particularly concerning Mick Schumacher’s exit from Haas. Schumacher now serves as Mercedes’ reserve driver. Wolff shared, “Yes, I could complain about the way he treated Mick, who is very close to me.” But he also acknowledged Steiner’s honesty, a quality he finds rare in Formula 1: “But what I cannot say is that Gunther is not sincere. And this doesn’t happen so often in Formula 1.”
