Misunderstanding over departure: 'Steiner couldn't help popularity'

Guenther Steiner is no longer on the Haas F1 pit wall; for many fans and analysts, it is going to take some getting used to. The Italian was one of the most colourful figures in the F1 paddock, but owner Gene Haas of the American team decided to cast him aside. Damon Hill, a former Formula One world champion and current analyst, reacts to Steiner's farewell.

Steiner has been involved in the Haas F1 project since day one. In fact, according to Hill, the Italian was "one of the masterminds" who made the team's entry into Formula 1 possible. In turn, Gene Haas - who admittedly had made his mark in American motorsport - was more the money man. In recent years, Gene Haas also mostly stayed in the background, while Steiner became the face of the team.

Did Steiner have too many distractions?

"So actually, you could say it was his team, but he didn't own it," Hill said on Sky Sports. "He was getting a lot of attention and distractions. He was talking about this TV series that they're planning and stuff. And maybe that was too much for some people, because as a team principal, your primary job and your focus has to be on what you do. But it wasn't his fault that he was popular and he became a celebrity."

Steiner himself has not yet commented on his forced departure from Haas F1. The Italian did not appear in the Haas press release either. So it is also unclear what Steiner will do in the future.