Gene Haas explains reasons for split with Guenther Steiner،
Gene Haas cited track performance as the main reason why Guenther Steiner lost his job as Haas Formula 1 team principal this week.
The shock news was announced on Wednesday and means 2024 will be the first season for the Haas team without Steiner at the helm.
“It was about performance,” Haas told Formula 1's official website when asked why Steiner's contract was not renewed. “We're in our eighth year, in 160 races – we've never had a podium. The last few years we were 10th or ninth.
“I'm not saying it's Günther's fault, or anything like that, but it seems like it was the appropriate time to make a change and try a different direction, because it doesn't seem like continuing with what we had was this is really going to work.”
Haas finished tenth in the constructors' standings in 2023 – the second time in three years that it has finished last in the championship and a drop from eighth place in 2022. The result means it will lose around $20 million in price compared to last year.
“We have to do better,” Haas added. “It's easier to retain and attract sponsors if we're a middle-of-the-pack team and not a dead last team. That's my take on it.
“At the same time, if we can run a little faster, we will get more FOM. [Formula One Management prize] money, which will make life a little easier. “It's really about winning. We have a great team, we have great engines, we have very good drivers. There is no reason for us to be 10th. I don't understand how we can be with all the equipment and people we have.” “
Haas is unusual among Formula One teams in that it uses as many components as Ferrari regulations allow rather than building them itself. The team is still responsible for the design of its chassis and aerodynamic surfaces, and it is on the latter point that Haas believes its team has its greatest weakness.
“I think we actually have a great formula here,” he continued. “We have Ferrari engines that probably have more power than anyone else at the moment. We have Ferrari equipment. [as per the permitted listed parts within the regulations]we have a good chassis.
“I talk to a lot of engineers and I think our biggest failure is aero; our aero program needs work. When you're on the track and you're humiliated every weekend, I'm going to stop taking that one.” “
Former Haas engineering director Ayao Komatsu will replace Steiner as team boss with immediate effect. Although a number of former team principals are currently unemployed – including ex-Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto and ex-Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer – Haas has said it is keen to promote within the team. team as he did before with his machine tools. operations, Haas Automation.
“I’ve been running Haas Automation for over 40 years now,” he added. “By bringing people from outside, it takes time for them to learn, six months to a year, and a lot of time, even if we don’t like them.
“It's better to take people you know, and even if they're not a perfect fit, at least you know what you're going to get.
“It’s worked pretty well for us here at Haas Automation, so I’m really applying a lot of the basic elements that were here to the Formula 1 team.
“I really like having people that I know, that understand the day-to-day operations, understand the people, [rather] than to bring in a stranger who will shake everything up and create disorder.”
