Written by Oscar McWilliams, Edited by Dhara Dave
In a turn of events, charismatic former Haas Formula One team boss Guenther Steiner has dropped his case against the US-based racing team after an out-of-court settlement was made after nearly 29 hours of mediation.
The accord, according to documents of Mecklenburg County Clerk in North Carolina, marks the end of a bitter 10-month-long court battle. Steiner's decision to dismiss the case "with prejudice"—i.e., it can't be refiled—puts an end to a chapter that pitted one of Formula 1's most legendary figures against the team he co-founded.
Steiner's April 2024 lawsuit was a consequence of his abrupt exit from Haas before the start of the 2024 season. The suit alleged unpaid commissions to him and accused Haas of continuing to use his image and likeness to market himself for promotional purposes after he had been informed that his contract would not be renewed.
The suit boldly stated: "The popularity of Formula One in America is rapidly growing, and Haas F1 has grown with it… But neither Haas F1 nor Formula One would exist today in the modern United States if not for Guenther Steiner." This was an observation that was reflective of Steiner's belief in his disproportionate role in introducing the team and the sport's stature to a long NASCAR and IndyCar dominant market.
The drama unfolded against the backdrop of F1’s explosively expanding American fan base, fueled in part by the popularity of the Netflix series ‘Formula 1: Drive to Survive,’ in which Steiner was a star.
His blunt-speaking, expletive-laden utterances and straight-shooting management style endeared him to worldwide fans as a cult hero. Off the stage though, tension with Haas team owner Gene Haas had evidently come to a boiling point, culminating in Steiner's resignation and the resulting courtroom fight.
The 28-hour and 36-minute mediation indicates a long and exhausting negotiation process. While the terms of the settlement are not disclosed, Haas Formula, LLC made a concise statement: "Haas Formula, LLC is pleased to announce that Guenther Steiner and Haas Formula, LLC have settled their dispute, that Guenther Steiner has withdrawn all allegations heretofore made in his lawsuit, and all claims asserted against Haas Formula, LLC have been dismissed with prejudice."
The statement concluded on a friendly well-wish note, a cordial goodbye.
Steiner's Haas tenure was nothing short of revolutionary. The team emerged in 2016 as the first US-run F1 team in decades, Steiner being the mastermind behind it. Running on one of the lowest budgets on the grid, Haas adopted a stingy setup under Steiner, farming out components within the bounds laid down by FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) rules and signing a technical partnership with Ferrari. This tactic allowed the team to punch above its weight, despite being a perennial underdog, often battling at the back of the midfield.
It was Steiner's personality, however, that most embodied Haas' personality. Drive to Survive made his larger-than-life personality shine, his fiery insults and single-minded focus showcased.
Episodes of Haas' woes—mechanical problems, budget constraints, and on-track issues—were punctuated by Steiner's colourful rants, making him an internet meme sensation. His offseason exit, late in 2023, in favour of the more subdued Ayao Komatsu, saw fans mourn the loss of a personality who had become synonymous with the team's scrappy attitude.
.Since leaving Haas, Steiner has readily found a role in the media, where he has appeared as a pundit at several races in 2024 and conducted post-race interviews with drivers like Max Verstappen, the recently crowned four-time world champion. His continued visibility is a sign of his continued popularity, even though Haas remains under new leadership.
For Haas, the settlement spares the possibility of a lengthy courtroom drama that would have served to further highlight the internal divisions at a moment when Formula One's limelight in America is warmer than ever.
As the 2025 season approaches, the team can now get back to racing instead of court headlines. But Steiner's departure and the fallout from the lawsuit are questions about the direction of the team. Can Haas exist without the man who gave it a public face?
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