Guenther Steiner Unfazed by Haas's Strong Start to F1 Season

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner (58) expressed his lack of surprise at the team’s impressive performance at the beginning of the Formula 1 season, suggesting that they may have intentionally downplayed their prospects. Steiner’s comments come after Haas, under new leadership, exceeded expectations in the early races of the season, contrary to initial predictions.

Newly appointed principal Ayao Komatsu had cautioned before the season opener in Bahrain that Haas, who had finished at the bottom of the standings in 2023, might struggle to compete near the front of the grid. However, Haas drivers Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg surprised many by delivering strong performances, with Hulkenberg securing a top-ten finish in Saudi Arabia and both drivers scoring points in Australia.

Steiner, speaking on a video call after being named as an ambassador for the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, credited the team and former technical director Simone Resta for their work on the car. He revealed that the car had been completed before his departure from the team in January and suggested that he had anticipated their current level of performance based on wind tunnel data.

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A mega effort in Melbourne ?@HaasF1Team continued their impressive start to the season with both drivers in the points for the first time since 2022 ?#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/cvWIhrmXx8
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 26, 2024

The Italian acknowledged that the team may have deliberately understated their potential to manage expectations but believed it was unnecessary given their actual performance on track. Despite his departure from the team, Steiner expressed happiness for Haas’s success and praised the efforts of the technical team in Italy.

Steiner, known for his candid and colorful persona, also addressed his involvement with the Netflix docu-series ‘Drive to Survive’. He reassured fans of the series that he would continue to be featured, although he was uncertain about the extent of his appearances.

“I’m working with them (Netflix), how much they (use) I never know,” he said. “Maybe now I’m the most boring guy ever and they don’t bring anything. They are still filming, they did quite a lot with me, my new jobs.”

Steiner’s insights shed light on Haas’s early-season success and offer a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes dynamics of Formula 1 teams. As the season progresses, fans will eagerly await further developments and see how Haas continues to perform on the track.