Steiner played a pivotal role in the establishment of Haas, presenting the model to US manufacturer Gene Haas, with the team making its debut in 2016.

He was succeeded by engineering chief Ayao Komatsu.

The team has unveiled its first post-Steiner creation, the VF-24 for the upcoming season, with Hulkenberg expressing his surprise at Steiner’s departure.

READ: Red Bull to sign Alex Albon amid Lewis Hamilton move

“I received a phone call from Gene between Christmas and New Year,” Hulkenberg told Sky Sports Germany.

“He informed me of his decision, which was surprising. I didn’t anticipate it and didn’t see it coming at all.

“I have had several conversations with Guenther since then, and speaking with him is always enjoyable. I have a strong relationship with him, both professionally and personally – he was largely responsible for my return [to F1].

“He opened the door for me, and partly for that reason, I am saddened by his departure, but it is Gene Haas’s decision, and we will simply move forward.

READ: Charles Leclerc warns Lewis Hamilton as he breaks silence on Ferrari move

“[Guenther] made a significant contribution to the team commercially, and it’s no secret that the Netflix series became a huge success, in part due to him.

“We will miss him; he built all of this, as Haas was his concept, his business plan, and his departure will create voids that we will need to fill – but we must begin the rebuilding process.

“That is where our focus lies now.”

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At the launch of the F1 Drive karting experience at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the topic of his future with the American team arose, given his contract’s expiration this year.

A journalist misinterpreted Hulkenberg’s comments during a press conference, erroneously reporting his supposed contract extension through 2025 while implying uncertainty for his teammate Kevin Magnussen.

Responding to the inaccurate report on social media, Hulkenberg clarified the situation, playfully stating, “Don’t believe everything. Someone took a joke a bit too serious,” accompanied by a winking emoji.

READ: Lewis Hamilton suffers huge Mercedes blow after signing Ferrari contract

With Hulkenberg’s clarification, attention remains on his status in the 2024 driver market.

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu aims to address the team’s issues with the VF-24, hoping to make Haas an attractive option for drivers in 2025.

Komatsu acknowledges the team’s developmental challenges, expressing excitement for the prospects ahead, saying, “It’s certainly very exciting times for us in Haas.”

READ: Lewis Hamilton sent massive warning by ex-boss

Komatsu faces forthcoming decisions regarding the team’s driver lineup.

With Hulkenberg and Magnussen both nearing the end of their contracts and Ferrari academy prospect Oliver Bearman intensifying his testing with Haas ahead of a Formula Two title bid, changes may be on the horizon for the team.

The impending choices signal a potential shift in direction for Haas as they navigate the competitive landscape of Formula One.

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This anticipation stems from the American-based team’s bold decision to veer away from their long-standing association with Ferrari’s concept, opting instead to embrace Red Bull’s innovative approach following their spectacular 2022 season.

Haas’s choice to realign their strategy for the 2023 season will become evident in Austin, where they are set to introduce an exceptionally significant upgrade at a point in the season when major overhauls are generally less common. 

Guenther Steiner, the team’s principal, has emphasised the importance of this move, asserting that it will provide much-needed “stability.”

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The shift towards Red Bull’s concept represents a notable departure from their close relationship with Ferrari, which has been integral to Haas for an extended period. 

The decision to alter course comes in the wake of Red Bull’s undeniable success in Formula 1.

Haas’s current standing in the constructors’ championship is ninth, a reflection of what has been a challenging season that has yielded only 12 points from the first 17 races. 

However, the team remains optimistic about the remainder of their 2023 campaign, setting their sights on a seventh-place finish. Currently, Williams occupies that position with 23 points.

READ: Nico Rosberg sends George Russell message which will alarm Lewis Hamilton

Ted Kravitz shed light on the potential impact of Haas’s forthcoming upgrades, which are poised to be game-changers. 

“Guenther Steiner was talking about how they’ve got a new concept for next year,” he disclosed on Sky Sports F1. 

“Haas are going down the Red Bull concept, they’re going to abandon following Ferrari on their concept and they’re going to go purely Red Bull concept, and the first elements of that – the upgrades, are going to be at the US Grand Prix in Austin.”

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Speculation suggests that the prospective buyer is British businessman William Storey, who has seemingly reached an agreement on a £50 million takeover of the club. 

Dai Yongge acquired a controlling stake in Reading FC in May 2017, but the club’s relegation at the end of the previous season has left it in a precarious financial situation.

Storey, a former major investor in the Formula 1 team Haas, is said to be eager to conclude the deal following what have been described as productive discussions. 

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Reading’s financial woes escalated after their relegation to the third tier of English football, exacerbated by a six-point penalty incurred for breaching the EFL’s profitability and sustainability regulations.

The club’s financial challenges have extended into the current season, with two more penalties affecting their standings. 

In August, Reading was deducted one point for failing to meet player wage payments on three occasions the previous term. 

In a further setback, they received a suspended three-point penalty last month for failing to deposit the requisite funds into their accounts.

Despite the difficulties, William Storey has identified the potential for a rewarding project in Reading FC, particularly as they aim to secure promotion back to the Championship. 

The team, currently managed by former Southampton boss Ruben Selles, has gathered just nine points from their first 11 games this season and finds themselves in the relegation places in League One.

Storey’s previous attempts to acquire ownership of second-tier clubs Sunderland and Coventry City were unsuccessful, but it appears that the Reading deal has now met with success. 

The proposed agreement is believed to include the acquisition of the Select Car Leasing Stadium, along with Reading’s state-of-the-art training facility at Bearwood Park.

It has been reported that Storey intends to address Reading’s debt issues and is committed to investing in the squad. 

Currently operating under a transfer embargo due to their financial instability, Reading is restricted from signing new players who do not meet very specific conditions.

READ: Why Red Bull is worried about Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri

William Storey, a native of Richmond, was formerly involved in an ill-fated sponsorship deal with the F1 team Haas, which was terminated in September 2019. 

Rich Energy, a brand associated with Storey, has been linked to other motorsport sponsorship deals, and Storey has also managed professional boxer Frank Buglioni.

The completion of the takeover is contingent on the Football League’s meticulous fit and proper owner test, which has become more stringent in recent times. 

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The issues have raised concerns about the safety of the upcoming races.

The FIA’s announcement on Saturday revealed that tyre problems had emerged following a single hour of practice held the day before. 

To address the situation, new track limits rules have been enforced to discourage drivers from running on kerbs at two particular corners, which are believed to have contributed to the tyre issues. 

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The start of the sprint race qualifying session has been delayed to provide drivers with an extra 10 minutes of practice to adapt to the new rules.

Additional changes are being considered for the upcoming grand prix, including the possibility of mandating a minimum of three pit stops for all drivers and implementing a maximum stint length of 20 laps.

Gunther Steiner expressed his frustration at the unfolding situation, calling it a “concerning thing for the future.” 

He stated, “It shouldn’t happen. 

“This should not happen in Formula 1. 

“But it has, and now we need to see how we get out of it. 

“I think the good thing with this coming out, there are solutions for this race weekend, but going forward, this shouldn’t happen again.”

“In the end, it is embarrassing because this is not where we should be,” Steiner added, highlighting the unexpected nature of the issue.

This weekend’s event marks Formula 1’s second visit to the Losail International Circuit, with its previous race taking place in 2021. 

During that race, several drivers experienced tyre failures attributed to the circuit’s kerbs. 

In response, the track underwent extensive refurbishments, and new kerbs were installed to prevent a recurrence of the problem.

Gunther Steiner acknowledged the efforts made to address the issue, saying, “There were some signs already here two years ago, we had issues but they were different kerbs. 

“I think they were supposed to develop some kerbs which don’t damage the tyres, but apparently the kerbs we have developed they damage the tyres.”

While the white line defining the track’s edge is being repositioned at turns 12 and 13 to keep drivers away from the problematic kerbs, concerns persist that other sections of the high-speed circuit may still pose risks to the tyres. 

Steiner emphasised the need for proactive measures to ensure safety.

“At least they are proactively doing something for tomorrow and now going out changing some of the track limits that we are not going over these kerbs should help a little bit,” Steiner commented. 

“But I don’t know if that sorts the problem because it wasn’t clear to me.”

He continued, “They are doing three corners; the track limits will be changed so we don’t go on the kerbs. 

READ: Red Bull warn Sergio Perez about Lewis Hamilton amid ‘handicap’

“But I don’t know if it is only those kerbs or other ones as well. 

“I think they don’t know as much as they would like to know; otherwise, it wouldn’t have ended up in this place. 

“So I think that for safety reasons, for sure, if they see any risk of having flat tyres, they will have a maximum running of the tyres of 20 laps is my understanding tomorrow for the proper race.”

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This unexpected twist has left the Swiss outfit reevaluating its options for its driver lineup, as discussions behind the scenes took a heated turn.

The revelation comes from a report by veteran Swiss F1 journalist Roger Benoit, published in Blick. 

According to Benoit, the Sauber team, which is affiliated with Alfa Romeo, expressed a strong desire to bring back Nico Hulkenberg to Hinwil as Valtteri Bottas’ teammate for the upcoming season. 

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Hulkenberg, a German driver, already has a history with Alfa Romeo/Sauber, having raced for the team during his third season in Formula 1 back in 2013.

The decision to pursue Hulkenberg as a replacement for Zhou Guanyu led to what Benoit describes as “heated discussions and arguments” within the Sauber team throughout the summer. 

The team faced a critical choice in determining its driver lineup for the 2024 season, with both Bottas and Zhou having performed commendably in the current season, despite the car’s limited performance.

One of the concerns expressed was that Bottas and Zhou appeared to be too perfectly matched, lacking the rivalry and emulation that often drives teammates to excel. 

This assessment further fueled Sauber’s interest in bringing Hulkenberg on board.

However, according to the report, even Bottas’ position within the team came under scrutiny during these deliberations. 

Nevertheless, terminating Bottas’ contract, which extends until the end of 2024, would have entailed significant financial implications.

The report also suggests that Felipe Drugovich, the 2022 FIA Formula 2 Champion and the current reserve driver for Aston Martin, was on the team’s shortlist of potential candidates. 

However, a perceived “lack of courage” within the team dissuaded it from making any drastic changes to its driver lineup.

READ: Ferrari boss speaks out on Max Verstappen

As anticipation builds for the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend, Alfa Romeo F1 recently confirmed its driver lineup for the next season. 

Both Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu are set to continue representing the team on the track in 2024, despite the earlier speculation and discussions surrounding potential changes.

In response to the confirmation, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Principal, Frederic Vasseur, stated, “We have faith in the abilities of our current driver lineup, and we believe that Bottas and Zhou will continue to contribute to our team’s success in the upcoming season.” 

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It was rumoured that Steiner was suing Gene over a 2016 agreement which wasn’t met, in regard to the Italian being given a stake in the American team.

BusinessF1 Magazine reported that Steiner thought he was promised a 50% stake in the team, but that Gene went against their promise.

As a result, it was rumoured that he was suing Gene for half of the team’s value, which is believed to be where the $900 million figure comes from.

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Steiner has rejected any claims that he’s suing the owner of the team he works for and insists that himself and Gene have joked over the matter.

“I told Gene that I was supposed to be suing him for $900 million,” Steiner told F1 journalist Joe Saward. “And he said: ‘Good luck with that!’.

“Where do these stories come from? Who makes them up?”

Steiner has been Haas’ team principal since the outfit joined the championship in 2016, with him having played an integral role in the side becoming an F1 team.

Haas have been through a lot in a relatively short space of time, with it being the team principal’s “passion project”.

Going completely against the rumours, he insists that his relationship with Gene is “good”, but that he is “tough” with the Italian.

When Steiner does a “bad job”, he admits that Gene is quick to tell him to improve.

“I think it [Haas] has to be my passion project,” Steiner told PlanetF1.com.

“I started this team, I went out and found an investor. If I leave… I never wanted another job, I would have had other jobs before, but I didn’t want them.

“This was one thing I wanted to do. And it’s pretty cool to set up an F1 team in your lifetime. There are not many people doing that and, therefore, I feel committed to the people.

READ: Sebastian Vettel makes damning Mick Schumacher admission

“We have got quite a few people here, who are still here from day one. I don’t get attracted by the neighbour’s greener grass.

“With Gene Haas, I know I have a very good boss, I’ve got a good relationship with him.

“He’s tough with me, but I’m tough with other people. So, if I do a bad job, I’m not afraid that he tells me. Not that he needs to tell me but, if he has a different opinion on it, I’m OK with it. I’m not getting upset about it.”

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Both Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg were very critical of the VF-23 at the recent Italian Grand Prix, where Haas’ race pace was abysmal.

The American side have often looked very good over one-lap thanks to being able to generate heat into the tyres quickly; however, in a race this results to poor tyre degradation.

Hulkenberg and Magnussen have both struggled massively to look after their tyres, with Magnussen insisting that the team just have to show “patience” in order to improve.

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“It’s just a paradox that we have one of the weakest cars with the strongest foundation I’ve seen in the team,” said Magnussen.

“Right now it’s all about enduring it and having patience.”

It seems that the Haas duo’s patience will only have to last until Formula 1 visits the Circuit of the Americas, where Haas will introduce a ‘B’ car “closely based on the Red Bull”.

“The floor, sidepods and engine cover will adopt elements from the fastest car in the field,” Schmidt reported.

Haas won’t be the first team this season to have dramatically changed their concept to copy Red Bull, who are yet to be defeated this year.

McLaren adopted the Austrians philosophy at the Austrian Grand Prix and have been stronger ever since, to the extent that Lando Norris has claimed two podiums since Austria, whilst Oscar Piastri has picked up a P2 in the Belgian Grand Prix sprint.

READ: Sebastian Vettel completes Red Bull return

All Haas need is to introduce an upgrade which will help preserve their tyres better, given that Hulkenberg in particular has consistently been able to progress to Q3.

Should the upgrades in Texas do this, then Haas could take the fight to Williams for seventh in the Constructors’ Championship.

According to Schmidt, Haas and engine partner Ferrari will be changing their transmission and chassis for 2024 to follow Red Bull’s philosophy, meaning that significant change is on the way.

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However, Steiner firmly denied that a concrete deal has already been reached between the two parties.

The uncertainty surrounding Alfa Romeo’s Formula 1 future has been fuelled by Audi’s impending takeover of Sauber in 2026. With this change on the horizon, questions have arisen regarding the continuation of Alfa Romeo’s partnership with the sport beyond 2023. 

Rumors have even suggested that Alfa Romeo may consider departing from Formula 1 to explore opportunities in the World Endurance Championship.

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Amidst the speculations surrounding Alfa Romeo’s next move, Haas has emerged as a potential partner for the Milanese automaker. 

While there have been rumours swirling about an agreement between Haas and Alfa Romeo, no official confirmation has been provided.

Steiner shed light on the situation, stating, “I actually don’t have an update. 

I mean, because I don’t know what Alfa Romeo wants to do; they need to decide if they want to stay in Formula 1 or not. 

“That has nothing to do with me; I don’t comment for Alfa Romeo.”

Steiner’s familiarity with the individuals at Alfa Romeo and his connections within the racing community have fuelled speculation about a possible collaboration. 

He acknowledged, “I know the people [at Alfa Romeo] very well, and I know a lot of other people very well. If they want to stay in Formula 1 for sure, we are interested; it would be an interesting partner. But there is no deal on the way at the moment.”

Before the Dutch Grand Prix in August, Haas made headlines by confirming their driver lineup for the 2024 season. 

Kevin Magnussen, a seasoned Formula 1 driver, is set to continue with the team for another season. 

Joining him is Nico Hulkenberg, who achieved the team’s best finish of seventh place in Australia.

Hulkenberg’s arrival came after Mick Schumacher’s departure following the 2022 season, a decision that drew criticism from Ralf Schumacher, who accused Steiner of having personal issues with the young German driver.

Steiner responded to these allegations, saying, “I don’t [get] any satisfaction out of proving people wrong. 

READ: Oscar Piastri accused of making Lando Norris ‘annoyed’

“It’s nice to see that we made the right decision for the team. 

“But you’re not here to prove anybody wrong. 

“I’m not here to do that.”

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Yet again, Haas were unable to convert their one-lap pace into decent race pace, due to shocking tyre preservation.

All season, the American side have struggled to look after their tyres, something which has left them eighth in the Constructors’ Championship.

Hulkenberg has often done exceptionally well in qualify to get himself near or even in the top 10, but more often than not tumbles backwards in rapid fashion during the race.

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The story was no different at Monza, where Hulkenberg qualified P13 before finishing in a disappointing 17th, one position ahead of team-mate Kevin Magnussen.

The German criticised the team and insisted that they are currently “really bad”, as soon as the tyres are run for a few laps.

“We’re really bad compared to the competition, Hulkenberg told Sky Deutschland. “As soon as the tyres aren’t new, there is only one way – backwards.”

What really concerns the veteran, is that Haas didn’t take any upgrades to the Italian GP, with him admitting that progress can’t be made if the team aren’t introducing developments.

His frustration was very clear, to the extent that he admitted that Haas aren’t “worthy of points”.

“We were the only team that didn’t bring anything to Monza, no special package – not even a trimmed front flap for last week’s new front wing, said Hulkenberg

“When you do so little, you can’t expect much. To be honest, we are not worthy of points here and far from it.”

READ: Christian Horner on Sergio Perez losing his podium due to penalty

Haas now have just under two weeks before the Singapore Grand Prix, which just so happens to be the most gruelling race of the season for both driver and machine.

Hulkenberg is hopeful that the Marina Bay Circuit will suit the Americans better, although he recognises that miracles can’t be expected.

“Now we have to wipe our mouths and in 14 days we’ll go to a circuit (Singapore) that will hopefully suit us a bit better, but of course we’re not going to unroot any trees there either,” he said.

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