F1 Rumour: Guenther Steiner Could Be Blocked From Re-joining Sport Thanks To Clause

Guenther Steiner's journey back to F1 could be impeded by a contractual clause following his tenure at Haas

Recent developments suggest that Guenther Steiner, the former team principal of Haas, faces potential obstacles in returning to Formula 1 due to a speculated contractual clause. His unexpected exit from the team marks the end of a significant era.

Key Takeaways

• The conclusion of Steiner's contract, rather than a dismissal, led to his departure from Haas after a challenging 2023 season, with no contract renewal from the team.
• In a revelation at the Autosport International Show, Steiner disclosed his contract's non-renewal was communicated in a sudden phone call from Gene Haas.
• An alleged "anti-competition signing arrangement" could hinder Steiner's immediate re-entry into F1, a situation distinct from typical non-working scenarios in the sport.

The Formula 1 community was taken aback by the sudden departure of Guenther Steiner from Haas, where he had been a prominent figure for a decade making him the third most popular team principle behind Christian Horner and Toto Wolff. 

Contrary to initial speculations of a firing, it was later revealed that Steiner's tenure concluded due to the expiration of his contract, which Haas chose not to extend. This context shifts the narrative from a dismissal to the culmination of an existing agreement.

At his first public appearance post-departure, during the Autosport International Show, Steiner shared insights into how he discovered his contract would not be renewed. The news was unexpectedly delivered via a phone call with team owner Gene Haas during the holiday season.

Steiner's potential re-entry into the F1 arena appears to be complicated by a reported "anti-competition signing arrangement," as detailed by Autosport. 

“The anti-competing clause has not been confirmed by either side," he admitted over the weekend.  

This scenario is distinct from other non-working conditions typically encountered in F1, such as gardening leave or pre-agreed team changes. 

Despite these challenges, Steiner remains level-headed about his future prospects. In a conversation with Autosport, he conveyed a relaxed and open attitude towards his career trajectory

“In the end, the contract was up and for me it’s like it always was: ‘if it doesn’t work, just let me know’. I’m not hung on anything,” Steiner admitted.

“Gene Haas owns the team and obviously has got the right to decide what he wants to do. Simple as this. If he doesn’t want me around, I’m not [around].

"That’s alright, let’s move on. I’m not running and in a rush for the next job – I’m chilled."

The uncertainty surrounding the exact nature and impact of the alleged anti-competition clause in his contract adds complexity to his situation. Nonetheless, neither Steiner nor the Haas team has officially confirmed this clause's existence.

Whether Haas' move to focus the team's management more on engineering with Ayao Komatsu now heading the squad will work is yet to be seen. But one thing is clear: Steiner was right when he insisted the team needed more investment. And I'm afraid that Gene isn't ready to admit it.