After an on-stage Q&A – and impromptu book signing – with Sky Sports F1 TV commentator David Croft in front of a bumper crowd at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, Steiner gave his first media interviews since leaving the squad he formed on behalf of team owner Gene Haas back in 2014.
Before an on-camera chat with Sky Sports News reporter Craig Slater, Autosport exclusively sat down with Steiner to hear his side of the story.
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In his first in-depth and extended interview, the 58-year-old outlined his thoughts on leaving Haas without being able to say an in-person goodbye to any team staff, why he’s not bitter about the situation and his thoughts on his F1 future.
But he also opened up on certain events that occurred at the team throughout his 10-year stint. These, Steiner believes, should be viewed in a different light, as should the poor results that Gene Haas cited as the main reason for not re-signing his founding team principal.
Steiner “chilled” after Haas exit, but wary of restrictions in place over situation
Having revealed during his on-stage Q&A that Gene Haas had delivered the news that his 2023-ending contract would not be extended in an “out of the blue” phone call in the between Christmas and New Year period just gone, Steiner told Autosport of his reaction.
“In the end,” he said, “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. 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.”
While not on gardening leave following his Haas exit, given his contract was not renewed rather than terminated, Steiner is thought currently to be under an anti-competition signing arrangement, which can temporarily be put in place. This differs to the non-working situations F1 team staff can be placed in when they’ve agreed to sign for another team before leaving their current squad.
This is why when asked if in a hypothetical situation where Christian Horner was to offer him a return to Red Bull this week and could he therefore accept such an offer, Steiner replied: “No.” The anti-competing clause has not been confirmed by either side.
