Guenther Steiner, former Haas F1 team boss speaks his mind
Guenther Steiner’s famous smile and direct communication made him the unlikely star of the Netflix series ‘Drive to Survive’ that follows the world of Formula One. Prior to Haas he did stretches with Jaguar and RedBull in F1, and also ticked off rally and Nascar. On leaving Haas F1 in 2024 he found he had time for motorcycles and bought the Tech3 KTM motorcycle team in 2025.
I met with Guenther Steiner online. It’s all real here, there’s no pretense, what you see is what you get: big smiles, big laughs, hard truths.
You brought the drama to ‘Drive to Survive’. How was it adjusting to fame?
Guenther: It’s not difficult, because I don’t want to be famous, I’m fortunate enough to be able to do what I love, which is racing.
Guenther notes that in Formula 1 drama is “made up of politics and stuff” while most of the drama in motorcycles is on the racetrack, not outside of that.
The FIA have tried to stop drivers swearing. Do you think you can drive a car fast if you don’t use profanity?
Guenther: It’s very difficult I think for most of the people, you don’t use the profanity addressed at somebody it’s more getting rid of some energy … the adrenaline.
The day before the interview Formula 1 crowned a new champion at the Mexico Grand Prix. I asked GS for his thoughts on Kimi Antonelli – the youngest ever drivers champion.
Guenther: Cool, very talented. A very good kid, you know. He did everything right. He’s the youngest one age wise, but mind-wise, I think he’s a lot more mature than some of the people who are there 10 years. You know he was around the right people. Congrats to him [on] what he achieved at 20 years.
Kimi was picked really early. In Moto 3, you’re picking really young riders. How do you identify someone so young?
Guenther: I would not define myself as an expert in young riders because you’re looking at 14-15 year old kids. I rely [on] our Moto3 team.
What bought you into motorbikes?
Guenther: I liked motorbikes when I was young, but then I started working [on] cars in racing and then you don’t have time anymore. I left Haas in ‘24 and went to the MotoGP race in Austin in Texas , and I got the idea [it] would be cool to get involved.
Tell us more about this tour?
Guenther: I speak about where I come from, what I did in my life. We speak about current F1. People will want to know what Liam [Lawson] is doing – your man – everybody’s waiting for that.
Guenther is keeping it lighthearted and assures me he doesn’t speak about tire pressures and wing angles because “they get boring pretty quick.” “We talk about real life – so normally it’s a good laugh as well.”
In summer he spends six to seven weeks in Europe where he owns a place in his hometown, the rest of the year Guenther lives in North Carolina, USA. Shane van Gisbergen (SVG) lives in the same city. “One of your best.” he says. “I always say if that guy had been in a single seater… “ he trails off and his famous facial expressions to tell the story… “he can drive anything.”
We wrap up by talking yet more motorcycles and F1. Guenther is easy to chat with, I get the feeling he’d be a great dinner guest. After Formula One and MotoGP seasons finish he is embarking on a tour across Australasia through December. Looking at the schedule, he’s going to have to say a lot. I think he’ll manage.
8th – Darwin
9th – Brisbane
10th – Wellington
12th – Christchurch
13th – Sydney
14th – Melbourne
15th – Christchurch
16th – Auckland
18 – Perth