While a certain section of people celebrated the axing of Guenther Steiner from the Haas F1 team, most fans and experts were not happy to see the Italian engineer leave the team he helped mold for eight years. For those in favor of the move, the argument was about the need for a change in the team’s leadership role after another poor season in the sport, finishing dead last in the constructors’ championship.
The worst part for Steiner was the fact that the 58-year-old did not get a chance to say goodbye to the team in a proper farewell. Given Haas’ lack of involvement in the team’s workings and the management’s inability to secure an increased investment to improve the team’s workings, a new conversation is taking shape in the form of people questioning how long can the team sustain without enough money.
The team buys most of their parts from Ferrari and then has little left to invest elsewhere. As such, the best they can do is bring one major update in a season, and it ends up serving little purpose.
Per a report from Formu1a.uno, Gene Haas believes his team has the resources to produce better results and also has “good equipment that a lot of other teams don’t have.” As such, the 71-year-old claims it is embarrassing for him that his team could not do better.
With Ayao Komatsu taking charge of the team, the core problem remains the same – a major lack of investment in Haas. Given the same, the popular opinion remains Haas will once again finish dead last in the rankings, giving way to immense scrutiny and a negative spotlight on social media.
Fans unhappy with the treatment of Guenther Steiner at Haas
Following a split under controversial circumstances and the seemingly non-addressing of the core problem of investment, fans of Steiner took to X (formerly Twitter) to confront Gene Haas over his stubbornness.
Gene, you can’t taste the Champagne on a Lemonade budget https://t.co/ju4apPkffu
— Dan – EngineMode11 (@EngineMode11) January 11, 2024
One fan pointed out how it took Haas 8 years to realize winning in F1 wasn’t easy while another wondered how much longer will it take for them to realize it isn’t cheap either.
It’s taken 8 years to realise that winning in F1 isn’t that easy
— Calum Nicholas (@F1mech) January 11, 2024
I wonder how long it takes now to realize that it isn’t cheap either
— Marcel (@Boogie38) January 11, 2024
F1 broadcaster Will Buxton also took to X to highlight the significant disappointment of the fans, despite a leadership turnover becoming the norm of F1.
Turnover of F1 team bosses has been high recently. Only Red Bull and Mercedes remain unchanged over the last 2 seasons. But Steiner’s departure feels different. The outpouring of disappointment from fans who seemed to hold genuine affection for him has been huge and telling.
— Will Buxton (@wbuxtonofficial) January 11, 2024
On the topic of a lack of investment from and for Haas, one fan wrote Andretti needs to oust the team. While another claimed the latest move will lead to the end of the team’s days in F1.
Gene Haas needs to understand that F1 is not NASCAR and that you actually need to INVEST MONEY AND TIME in this project, to keep progressing and having good results.
You know who understands that concept? Michael Andretti. Kick Haas out and bring in a true lover of this sport
— Charlotta (@charlotteeww) January 11, 2024
Gene Haas expects more, but gives less every year-
which is definitely gonna be the team’s downfall in the end. If it isn’t too late already https://t.co/U9Ie0uScFk
— Ilse (@Ilse_3316) January 10, 2024
While a leadership change might bring a fresh perspective within the Haas camp, the team’s core problem remains the same. Should they fail to address the elephant in the room and continue operating on a broken model, it is only a matter of time before the team goes up for sale and ownership switches hands.
