Key Takeaways (TL;DR):
- Grocery Store Sacking: Guenther Steiner revealed he learned of his firing as Haas team principal while buying deli meats at a supermarket with his wife.
- Overstayed Tenure: Steiner admitted he should have left Haas two years earlier after realizing his strategic vision differed from owner Gene Haas, though he has no regrets.
- Sense of Relief: The former boss felt relieved when the decision was taken out of his hands, as he was already unhappy with the team’s trajectory.
Fired by Haas at the conclusion of the 2023 season and now involved with the Tech3 project in MotoGP, Guenther Steiner reflected on his exit from the American Formula 1 squad. While the Italian had previously mentioned receiving the news over the phone, he shared a humorous detail: he was buying groceries with his wife when Gene Haas called.
“I was in the supermarket and answered it. I was in the deli section, buying ham or salami for the evening. My wife was with me, it was quite funny. I said: ‘I’m no longer at Haas,’ and she asked: ‘What do you mean?'” Steiner recalled during an appearance on the High Performance podcast.
Reflecting on his time at the helm, Steiner admitted he ought to have stepped down two years prior after realizing his vision for the team did not align with owner Gene Haas. Nevertheless, he insisted he harbors no regret over staying longer.
“I think I stayed two years too long. I should have explained my vision better, but I don’t know if I would have succeeded. I could have said: ‘This isn’t working, I’m leaving.’ But in the end, I don’t regret not leaving two years earlier,” he stated.
Despite the abruptness of the phone call, Steiner admitted feeling a sense of relief, as he had grown frustrated with the direction of the organization.
“I’m at peace with it. Looking back, that’s what I’d say, but at the time it wasn’t that bad; if it were, I would have left. The decision was taken out of my hands, but I’m glad it was. Sometimes you want to make a decision, but you don’t,” he noted.
“When it happened, I was actually quite happy, because I also didn’t agree with the direction the team was taking. My vision was different from the owner’s,” Steiner concluded.
Formula 1 resumes track action August 21–23, 2026, at Circuit Zandvoort for the Dutch Grand Prix, marking Round 12 of the World Championship. GRANDE PRÊMIO is covering all activities live on-site in Zandvoort with reporter Leonid Kliuev.
2026 Dutch Grand Prix — Session Schedule (Local Time / CEST)
| Day | Session | Local Time (CEST) |
| Friday, August 21 | Free Practice 1 | 12:30 – 13:30 |
| Friday, August 21 | Sprint Qualifying | 16:30 – 17:14 |
| Saturday, August 22 | Sprint Race | 12:00 – 12:30 |
| Saturday, August 22 | Grand Prix Qualifying | 16:00 – 17:00 |
| Sunday, August 23 | Grand Prix (72 Laps) | 15:00 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who replaced Guenther Steiner as Haas Team Principal?
Guenther Steiner was replaced by Ayao Komatsu, who previously served as the team’s Director of Engineering.
What is Guenther Steiner doing now?
Steiner works in media analysis and is involved in commercial and managerial operations with the Tech3 team in MotoGP.
When did Guenther Steiner leave the Haas F1 Team?
Steiner left Haas at the conclusion of the 2023 Formula 1 season, ending an eight-year stint as team principal since the squad’s 2016 debut.
