Popular former F1 boss open to comeback under one key condition

The Italian-American manager brings decades of experience at the highest level of motorsport, with a career that has included several prominent roles in Formula 1. Steiner served as Managing Director at Jaguar Racing from 2001 to 2003 before moving to Red Bull Racing, where he worked as Technical Operations Director between 2005 and 2006.

He later became one of the central figures behind Haas' entry into F1, leading the American outfit as team principal from its creation in 2014 until his departure at the end of 2023. More recently, Steiner has embarked on a new chapter outside Formula 1, becoming CEO and co-owner of the Tech3 MotoGP team in 2026.

Appearing as a guest on the Up to Speed podcast, Steiner explained that he would consider returning to Formula 1 only if the right project came along, rather than simply accepting another job in the sport. He stressed that much of his career over the past two decades has revolved around projects that allow him to build and shape something himself, as a conventional role would not provide the level of excitement he is looking for.

For Steiner, any potential return would therefore need to offer a genuine challenge and give him the freedom to influence the direction of the project. He also made clear that the title attached to the position would be of little importance, with the nature of the challenge itself ultimately determining whether he would be interested.

Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, the former Haas team principal highlighted the weather as the main obstacle to holding a European race so late in the year. With the season finale scheduled for the closing stages of the calendar, Steiner believes conditions in November or December would make Europe an unsuitable alternative.

The Italian-American also pointed to the financial implications of finding a replacement. In his view, Formula 1 cannot simply choose another circuit to maintain the number of races, as any additional event would also need to generate sufficient revenue and make financial sense for the teams.

Steiner believes the available options are therefore limited. He suggested that Malaysia's addition to the calendar provides F1 with some protection by ensuring the season still features more than 20 Grands Prix, although Stefano Domenicali would ideally like the championship to consist of at least 22 rounds. Finding a suitable venue for a potential 22nd race at the end of the year, however, could prove difficult.