Former Haas F1 Team boss drops his lawsuit after a surprise settlement!
It was expected that the case would drag on for months, but Guenther Steiner and Haas F1 Team have finally reached an agreement. The former head of the American team, ousted in early 2024, had filed a lawsuit against his former employer, claiming that the team owed him money and continued to exploit his image without his consent. After nearly 29 hours of mediation, both parties reached a settlement, putting an end to the conflict once and for all.
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A legal battle that dragged on
When Steiner learned that his contract would not be renewed, he quickly reacted by filing a lawsuit against Haas F1 last April. His argument? The team built its reputation—especially in the United States—thanks to him, notably through his exposure in the Netflix series Drive to Survive. He also accused Haas of continuing to use his name and image even after he was ousted from his role as team principal. The case quickly drew public attention, with Steiner becoming one of the most iconic figures in the paddock thanks to his frankness and memorable on-camera outbursts. But after several months of tension, the former Haas boss and the American team finally found a compromise that definitively closes the case.
An amicable settlement that buries the case
The mediation, which took place in Mecklenburg County, lasted exactly 28 hours and 36 minutes. At the end of the discussions, Steiner agreed to drop all his allegations and close the case with no possibility of reopening it. Haas quickly released an official statement confirming the resolution of the conflict:
“Haas Formula, LLC is pleased to announce that Guenther Steiner and Haas Formula, LLC have reached an agreement. Guenther Steiner has withdrawn all allegations made in his complaint, and all lawsuits filed against Haas Formula, LLC have been dismissed with prejudice. Both parties wish each other success in their future projects and will make no further comment on the matter.”
This statement marks the definitive end of the litigation between Steiner and Haas, even though the precise reasons for the settlement remain confidential.
The contrasting legacy of Steiner at Haas
Steiner took the helm at Haas F1 as early as 2014, two years before the team’s debut in Formula 1. His finest performance was in the 2018 season when the American team secured fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship. But the following years were much more challenging, with plummeting results and two disastrous seasons before his departure. Replaced by Ayao Komatsu in 2024, Steiner left behind a struggling team, but also a huge fan base that he managed to cultivate through Drive to Survive. While Haas is trying to rebuild with an entirely new driver lineup (Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman), Steiner himself could well bounce back elsewhere in motorsport. And when you see that Mattia Binotto has returned to the paddock with the Sauber team, why not see Steiner again?
This article explores the end of the litigation between Guenther Steiner and Haas F1, the details of the settlement reached during mediation, and the legacy left by the former boss of the American team.
Images: © Haas F1 Team
