“We won’t be good friends”
Steiner greets Ralf Schumacher and shoots against Haas
February 28, 2024, 6:59 p.m
After his departure as Haas team boss, Günther Steiner will remain in Formula 1 as an RTL expert. Before the start of the new season, the Italian talks about the circumstances of his dismissal and talks about what certain reunions in the paddock could look like.
Günther Steiner’s surprising exit from Haas was the first big bang in the still young Formula 1 year of 2024. A bang with consequences. The new RTL expert was, as usual, snappy in the interview and spoke out against his ex-boss. “I have no problem with the decision,” emphasized Steiner in an interview with RTL/ntv, “just the way it was done was not correct. I have never done it that way.” Haas owner Gene Haas informed the 58-year-old of his departure as team boss via telephone at the beginning of the year. Regarding his relationship with the American Haas, he said with a laugh: “I don’t think I’ll go to dinner with him – even if he pays.”
Steiner had a “clear vision” because the budget cap made it clear: “You have to go in a different direction that everyone else is going in. You don’t have to imitate the others, but you have to respect what other teams are doing. to play along with it. If the whole industry is going in this direction, you have to make sure that you go along with it in order to fight for it.” The South Tyrolean is calm: “The results will speak for themselves: Maybe I’m right, maybe Mr. Haas.”
Steiner also had a rather difficult relationship with ex-Formula 1 driver and Mick’s uncle Ralf Schumacher. The reason: Schumacher senior had criticized Steiner, among other things, for not giving his nephew “a fair chance”. Schumacher also didn’t like the personal interaction with Mick. “As an experienced man and also as a father, you don’t treat a young person like that,” said the 48-year-old at the time.
Steiner doesn’t avoid Ralf Schumacher
No problem for Steiner, who as an RTL expert at the track could definitely meet Schumacher, who is in front of the camera for Sky, one or two times this season – at the F1 opener in Bahrain (Saturday, 4 p.m./live on RTL and Sky) this could be the case for the first time.
“I don’t avoid anyone. You get along with some people, you don’t get along with others, that’s life. I don’t give myself any problems, otherwise you’ll put yourself under pressure,” said Steiner about the Schumacher case. “If he wants to greet me – good, if not – also good,” the former Formula 1 official continued. “Logically we won’t become good friends, but respect is always there,” he emphasized.
Steiner is also likely to meet the old Haas crew in the paddock. But there was little “wistfulness” in it, he assured. “I like the boys and they like me – at least most of them. I don’t actually have a problem with it. For me it was better. If you don’t get to the mountain you want to because you don’t have the support, it’s better “Don’t go up, otherwise you’ll hurt yourself,” said Steiner. He is “happy” with the decision and that is why he is open to people. “We’ll have a good laugh about it.”
Criticism of the Haas car, but praise for Hülkenberg
It is not yet clear how much his successor Ayao Komatsu will have to laugh about. Steiner generally thinks highly of his ex-colleague. “I had him as chief engineer for eight years. If I said he wasn’t good, I would be saying that I was a bit stupid myself,” said the 58-year-old. However, the job of a team leader is a “completely different role,” a “completely different job than a chief engineer,” emphasized Steiner.
He actually doesn’t want to judge this decision. “Mr. Haas believes it’s a wise decision, let’s let him make his decision and see where it leads. I disagree that it’s not Ayao Komatsu’s strength to be team boss.” The Japanese are now responsible for the results in the coming season. The first tests were rather sobering for the American team.
In the test drives in Bahrain, the new racer “didn’t look very good, I have to say,” said Steiner. “They did a lot of long runs, racing distances, to test the tire closure.” Last year, wear and tear was Haas’ biggest problem. “It’s going to be another difficult year. You can’t make up for a lack of investment in two months,” predicts Steiner to his former team.
After all, Haas driver Nico Hülkenberg seems “very motivated,” says Steiner. “He’s trying hard, says he worked a lot in the winter. There won’t be a lack of Nico’s motivation or talent. You have to see how good the car is.”