Steiner reveals future plans after Haas F1 departure

Guenther Steiner has indicated that he is prepared to take a breakfrom Formula 1 after his departure from Haas. It was announcedearlier this week that Steiner would depart as Team Principal ofHaas after a poor 2023 season where the team finished last in theConstructors' Championship, and will be replaced by EngineeringDirector Ayao Komatsu. Steiner had been instrumental in Haasestablishing itself on the grid, having convinced owner Gene Haasto set the team up, with Romain Grosjean finishing sixth on thesquad's debut at the 2016 Australian Grand Prix. Haas enjoyed earlysuccess, including a fifth-place finish in the Constructors' in2018, but has slipped towards the rear of the field over recentseasons, with owner Haas electing to replace Steiner after eightseasons at the helm. Reflecting on what he would do next afterleaving the team, Steiner - who lives in the United States - isprepared to spend time with his family. Steiner's future plans "Atthe moment, I just want to chill out a little bit," Steinerexplained to media including RacingNews365 at ASI24, whilstconfirming that he received the news of his departure from Haasbetween Christmas and New Year in his first public comments sincethe announcement on Wednesday 10th January. "It was 10 tough years,and I've got plenty of stuff to do - there is plenty to clean up athome. "It is also good to stay with the family, my daughter is 14years old, and so she is quite demanding. "Trying to manage thatseems to be more difficult than running an F1 team at the moment,so I'll be doing this for a few months." Steiner reveals details ofHaas departure He also confirmed that he was unable to say goodbyeto staff, having effectively been ousted from the team through aphone call by Haas. "It was a phone call, he [Gene] called me andsaid that he does not want to extend the contract which was up atthe end of the season and that was it." When asked if it came as asurprise, Steiner said: "I don't know if it was a surprise, it'salways a surprise but then in the end he owns the team, he can dowhat he wants and it's his decision."