Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg have thanked outgoing Haas Group Principal Guenther Steiner, who introduced each again to the game after a interval away from the F1 grid.
On Wednesday it was introduced that Steiner and Haas – the group he had led since they entered F1 in 2016 – can be parting methods with fast impact, as Ayao Komatsu steps as much as change him.
READ MORE: Guenther Steiner leaves position as Haas Group Principal with fast impact as Ayao Komatsu promoted
The Italian was an immensely in style determine inside the sport, due to his starring position in Netflix’s Drive To Survive, and he had additionally been the third longest-serving group boss on the grid behind Crimson Bull’s Christian Horner and Mercedes’ Toto Wolff.
His exit comes off the again of a disappointing 2023 marketing campaign, because the squad completed final within the constructors’ championship, with group proprietor Gene Haas commenting that it was “clear we have to enhance our on-track performances.”
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Following the announcement, Haas’s driver pairing of Magnussen and Hulkenberg – who’re each signed on by to the tip of 2024 – took to social media to share their due to Steiner for his or her time collectively.
Magnussen, particularly, has had a few years working with the Italian, with the Dane’s 2024 season set to be his seventh at Haas throughout two spells.
“Thanks, Guenther,” Magnussen posted on Instagram. “Thanks for taking me on the journey in 2017 and thanks for bringing me on board once more in 2022.
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“It has been each enjoyable and tremendously difficult – however by no means boring. So lengthy and all the very best.”
Hulkenberg additionally had Steiner to thank for handing him one other full-time F1 alternative, having spent the 2020, 2021 and 2022 seasons as a reserve for the Racing Level, and subsequently Aston Martin, outfit.
That full-time return to F1 additionally allowed the German to register his 2 hundredth Grand Prix begin of his profession, which he did in Mexico Metropolis final yr.
“Thanks, Guenther,” the 36-year-old posted. “To your belief, friendship and the chance to go racing in F1 once more! You’re positively a personality… all the very best!”
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Steiner’s substitute as Group Principal is a person each Hulkenberg and Magnussen will know nicely, within the type of 47-year-old Komatsu. With over 20 years of expertise in F1, he has labored with Haas since their 2016 debut, initially beginning as Chief Race Engineer earlier than rising to Director of Engineering.
Haas have indicated that Komatsu will take accountability for the group’s total technique, and in the end their on-track efficiency, with the group planning to recruit a European-based Chief Working Officer who will take care of all non-competition issues and departments.
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“I’m naturally very excited to have the chance to be Group Principal at Haas,” Komatsu stated on his appointment. “Having been with the group since its track-debut again in 2016 I’m clearly passionately invested in its success in System 1. I’m trying ahead to main our program and the varied aggressive operations internally to make sure we will construct a construction that produces improved on-track performances.
“We’re a results-based enterprise on the finish of the day, and we clearly haven’t been aggressive sufficient lately which has been a supply of frustration.
“Now we have wonderful help from Gene and our varied companions – significantly MoneyGram, and we need to mirror their enthusiasm with an improved on-track product. Now we have an amazing group of individuals throughout Kannapolis, Banbury and Maranello and collectively I do know we will attain the type of performances we’re able to.”