Nico Hulkenberg has opened up for the primary time on his emotions relating to the departure final month of Haas crew principal Guenther Steiner, admitting the information left him very stunned.
Steiner, a key participant in bringing Haas to F1 in 2016, stepped down after a difficult 2023 season the place the crew completed final within the Constructors’ Championship for the second time in three years.
The Italian’s outspoken persona – a trait that particularly got here to gentle in F1’s well-liked Netflix docu-series Drive to Survive – made him a fan favourite.
However eponymous crew proprietor Gene Haas in the end thought-about that the US outfit’s mediocre outcomes referred to as for a big change. He subsequently opted to not renew Steiner’s contract.
Hulkenberg, who returned full-time to Method 1 in 2023 with Haas after a three-year hiatus, was knowledgeable of Steiner’s destiny by a telephone name with Gene Haas on the finish of final yr.
“I received a telephone name from Gene between Christmas and New 12 months,” Hulkenberg instructed Sky Sports activities Germany.
“He knowledgeable me of his determination, which was shocking, I did not anticipate it and did not see it coming in any respect.
“I’ve spoken to Guenther since a number of occasions, and speaking to him is at all times enjoyable. I’ve a great relationship with him, each professionally and personally – he was the one largely chargeable for my comeback.
“He opened the door for me, and partly for that purpose, I remorse he’s gone, however it’s Gene Haas’s determination, and we’ll simply transfer on.”
Hulkenberg underscored how Steiner was such a giant a part of the Haas crew’s id, admitting that his absence has created a void that can should be stuffed by his successor, new crew principal Ayao Komatsu, albeit with a really totally different management type.
“[Guenther] made such a terrific contribution to the crew commercially, and it’s no secret that the Netflix sequence grew to become such an enormous success, partly to him,” added the Hulk.
“We’re going to miss him, he constructed all of this, as Haas was his idea, his marketing strategy and his departure will depart holes we should fill – however now we have to start out rebuilding. That’s the place our focus is now.”
Earlier this month, Haas unveiled its new automobile, the VF-24, marking a visible departure from its predecessor. Whether or not this interprets to on-track success stays to be seen.
On Sunday at Silverstone, Hulkenberg loved a stable shakedown run onboard Haas’ new contender in response to the crew.
The F1 veteran, partnering as soon as once more with Kevin Magnussen at Haas, shall be wanting to show himself and contribute to the US outfit’s resurgence beneath its new management. That effort will start on February 21 when pre-season testing kicks off in Bahrain.
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