Where else can Guenther Steiner go in Formula 1?

Guenther Steiner was present at a motorsport show in Birmingham, last weekend. As agreed, he was interviewed there and later had his picture taken with fans. Plenty of others would've opted out after resigning from an organisation. But not Steiner, he just turned up. Only the subject of the interview was suddenly different, and the Italian had to speak to the necessary media afterwards.

The average fan would probably not recognise Bruno Famin - Alpine's team boss. Neither would Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Stake F1's point of contact, almost certainly. However, Guenther Steiner, the man who ran the smallest team in Formula 1 for many years, cannot walk around the paddock anonymously. Even a trip to the local supermarket is complete with posing for selfies. Steiner is a celebrity. A cult hero, according to others.

Steiner as an analyst on TV?

No doubt there are plenty of TV channels pulling Steiner right now. So don't be surprised if Steiner can be found in the F1 paddock as an analyst at the opening race of the season. For the longer term - Steiner told Birmingham - the Italian with the American passport does not rule out returning in a position with an F1 team. But where? And what would he do then?

Since the start of the Haas F1 project a decade ago, Steiner has been at the helm of the team. Good results, such as Romain Grosjean's fourth place in the 2018 Austrian GP and Kevin Magnussen's pole in Brazil '22, were a rarity. Looking purely at what has been performed on the track in eight seasons, no team is waiting for Steiner to be their team boss. Not even Andretti-Cadillac, who have ambitions to enter Formula 1. That team - once on the grid - want to make strides forward. Steiner has proven he cannot do that.

Steiner the blabbermouth

Moreover, Steiner was sometimes not always clever with his statements. Take, for instance, the way the Italian, in his book, criticised Mick Schumacher after his forced departure from Haas F1. More traditional figures in the F1 paddock are bothered by his constant urge to appear in the public eye and tailor his statements accordingly.

Bernie Ecclestone, for example, is one such person. In response to Mick Schumacher's departure, the former Formula 1 owner said a little under a year ago: "What should we make of the statements of a man who became a superstar of the paddock only through bold remarks in a Hollywood-staged documentary targeted at the US market?”

It is an opinion not uncommon in Formula 1. But because of his popularity, Steiner may well have value in an ambassadorial or commercial role. Fans love Steiner, and sponsors love people who are loved by the public. One plus one can be two here. That is quite understandable if a team like Stake F1 brings in Steiner to attract sponsors. The top teams are probably not waiting for Steiner.

So, will we never see Steiner back in Formula 1? The chances seem negligible. The Steiner brand is too valuable for that.