P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Guenther Steiner departed his role as Haas Team Principal at the start of 2024 – and has indicated what his future plans will entail.
Guenther Steiner has announced that he is ready to take a break from Formula 1 following his departure from Haas. After a disappointing 2023 season, in which Haas finished last in the Constructors’ Championship, it was revealed that Steiner would step down as Team Principal and be replaced by Ayao Komatsu. Steiner played a crucial role in establishing Haas on the grid and was responsible for convincing owner Gene Haas to create the team. Despite early success, including a fifth-place finish in 2018, Haas has struggled in recent seasons and the decision was made to replace Steiner after eight years at the helm. In his first public comments since the announcement, Steiner revealed that he plans to spend time with his family and take a break from the demanding world of F1. He also mentioned that his departure from Haas came as a phone call from Gene Haas and he was unable to say goodbye to the staff in person.