Has there been a shake up at Haas?

[8Ace]

FourWheelDrift said:

I've heard a rumour that Drive to Survive has asked Guenther to dub new Team Principle Ayao Komatsu for the new series.

That would be amazing

[RiseUp]

Guenther is suing Haas for breach of contract and merchandise sales after he was sacked.

https://speedcafe.com/ex-team-boss-guenther-steine...

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Herr Steiner is quite simply a legend. He's a breath of fresh air in F1 and calls it how it is.

I so hope his litigation is successful and also we see him back in the paddock soon.

[StevieBee]

kambites said:

Mercury00 said:

I really don't understand Gene Haas. What's the point in owning a team if you don't spend any money?

Ultimately it's about advertising value, as with all of the other teams. In Haas's case he seems to think the best advertising bang for investment buck comes from spending the bare minimum and trundling around at the back of the midfield.

Much more nuanced than just advertising. It's about access to senior buyers.

Last year I had to cover the launch of an EV training centre being opened at a local college. amongst the kit in the workshop were several impressive machines with 'Haas' logos on them. The college had received significant financial support from a large local car dealership for the centre. That and their involvement in the F1 in Schools thing led to the Principal, Department Head and some students attending the British GP a few years ago as guests of Haas and it was in the hospitality area where that deal was done.

In the scheme of things, the value wasn't that much but times that by every nation they race in and the number of other relevant buyers that pass by the Haas hospitality unit at each race - including seiner buyers from all the main car manufacturers - and you begin to understand the marketing potential that involvement in F1 has for them.

And that potential is the same at the back of the grid as at the front so the motivation to invest money to win races is not as great than it would be if Haas was a consumer brand like Red Bull.

[entropy]

Stewart Haas Racing will fold at the end of 2024. Apparently initiated by Gene Haas pulling out his stake in the team.

https://racer.com/2024/05/28/stewart-haas-to-cease...

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Gene selling up? Andretti in the wings?

[MustangGT]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

Gene selling up? Andretti in the wings?

Not in F1, but his Nascar Cup team.

[richhead]

MustangGT said:

Jordie Barretts sock said:

Gene selling up? Andretti in the wings?

Not in F1, but his Nascar Cup team.

yes its the nascar team, but maybe hes looking to sell the f1 team soon.......

[Burrow01]

I do find it strange that he never actually seems to attend a race.

Gunter always seemed to be going to "phone Gene" at the end of every race

[PRO5T]

Burrow01 said:

I do find it strange that he never actually seems to attend a race.

Gunter always seemed to be going to "phone Gene" at the end of every race

Doesn't he have some...legal reasons not to leave the USA?

[Duffman83]

Burrow01 said:

I do find it strange that he never actually seems to attend a race.

Gunter always seemed to be going to "phone Gene" at the end of every race

It has been mentioned on a popular podcast that there my be "legal reasons" preventing him from leaving the continental US. That was as much as could be said on that matter.

How much truth there to that rumour I don't know, but it does make you wonder why

EDIT - after doing quick googling, he spent time in prison for tax evasion which makes him a convicted felon and as such that makes him unable to travel

Edited by Duffman83 on Friday 31st May 14:47

[Burrow01]

PRO5T said:

Burrow01 said:

I do find it strange that he never actually seems to attend a race.

Gunter always seemed to be going to "phone Gene" at the end of every race

Doesn't he have some...legal reasons not to leave the USA?

Thanks - was not aware of that interesting factoid

[hondajack85]

People only interested in the negative. But...
Haas Automation is the largest machine tool manufacturer in the western world.
It must be nice to promote your company by running an f1 team.
Even if the boss decided to do a newey and sail of into the sunset im sure the firm will go on and on for 100s of years.
F1 team due to the budget cap is pretty much self sustaining and nicely promotes Haas Automation.
Maybe this means he probably wont be selling his team ever unless some dissapointing descendant gets fed up with responsibility.
Lately gunter decided he wanted a slice due to filling the swear jar and saving the team or something lol.

[Adrian W]

PRO5T said:

Burrow01 said:

I do find it strange that he never actually seems to attend a race.

Gunter always seemed to be going to "phone Gene" at the end of every race

Doesn't he have some...legal reasons not to leave the USA?

Haas was imprisoned for two years for tax invasion and intimidating witnesses,

[Jordie Barretts sock]

So if he leaves the USA they might not let him back in?