‘Guenther Steiner was getting the attention and that didn’t go down well with Gene Haas...'
Haas announced Steiner’s shock departure on Wednesday, with Ayao Komatsu repl🐼acing him having previously held the role of director of engineering.
Steine💜r had been the team’s F1 boss since Haas’ first race back in 2016.
Haas’ best 💛finish came in 2018, securing fifth in the constructors’ championship.
Since then, the American-outfit has struggled for success,ꦬ slumping to last in the standings in 2021 and 2023🅘.
As a result, Steiner has lost his job.
Giving his assessment on the situation, Croft said: "Firstly, it’s Gene Haas' team, and Gueꩵnther Steiner was getting the lion's share of the attention and I'm sure that didn't go down hugely well with the team owner.
“But that's no reaso❀n to get rid of somebody. Their performance on track last year might have been part of the picture as well.
"Great on a Saturday in terms of the way that Nico Hulkenber𝕴g, for instance, managed to get into the top 10 in qualifying.”
Damon Hill added: “Guenther became a bit of a celebrity thanks to the the famous Netflix series [Drive to Survive] and the behind the scenes filmin🎀g of him and he is absolutely a kind of huge character.
“Very decisive, very confident and very sure of what he's saying. May🧸be this is part of the mix, he wants to win.&🍌nbsp;
"I don't know what the real reason is for the departure, but it's a big loss to the sport because fans liked him, he attracted people. He was controversial, he was outspoken – maybe 💝he didn't get the results that Gene Haas wanted."
With a sharp ey🍨e for F1’s controversies and storylines, Connor is 🥀the heartbeat of our unbiased reporting.
