Guenther Steiner has described his departure from Red Bull Racing as a fortunate turn that paved the way for his successful career in the United States. The former Haas Formula 1 team principal credits the move with enabling him to found a thriving company and later lead an F1 team. In a recent interview, he reflected on how the exit opened essential opportunities.
Guenther Steiner's time at Red Bull Racing began in 2005, when he served as technical operations director alongside Christian Horner at the Milton Keynes-based outfit. However, the arrival of Adrian Newey led to a crowded technical department, prompting Steiner's departure. He relocated to North Carolina in April 2006 to become technical director for Red Bull's NASCAR team, a role he held until April 2008.
Reflecting on the change, Steiner told FanAmp, "For me, it worked out perfectly. I mean it became crowded and for me now looking back that was my lucky moment when I left because it opened the door to the States." He had long aspired to live in the US but faced barriers like obtaining a work visa. The move, he said, provided that crucial entry point, adding, "once I was here, now you cannot get rid of me anymore."
After leaving the NASCAR team, Steiner founded Fibreworks Composites in January 2009, building it into a successful manufacturing company now employing 300 people. "So first of all, I opened my own company," he explained. "Now we've got 300 people, which is a pretty successful company."
This American foothold proved pivotal for his F1 ambitions. Steiner became team principal of Haas F1 in 2014, a position he held until 2023, when Ayao Komatsu replaced him. He believes starting Haas would have been impossible without first establishing himself in the US, as European efforts might have failed to attract investors. Learning American business culture was key, he noted: "if I speak European culture to an American businessman, he's not going to do business with me."
Ultimately, Steiner concluded, "For me, it was the best thing to have happened in my life to leave, to leave Red Bull." His journey highlights how personal career shifts can lead to unexpected successes in motorsport.