Guenther Steiner is a renowned figure in motorsport, best known for his role as the Team Principal of the Haas F1 Team from its inception in 2014 until the end of 2023. He gained public prominence as a star of the award-winning Netflix series Drive to Survive and is now an expert analyst on racing for German broadcaster RTL, French channel Canal+, and Australia’s Network 10.
Speaker Topics
- Leadership in Motorsport: Strategies for building and leading high-performance teams in the fast-paced world of Formula 1.
- Team Management and Operations: Insights from managing a Formula 1 team from the ground up, including operational excellence and strategic planning.
- Innovation and Technology in Motorsport: The role of advanced technologies and innovative practices in achieving competitive advantage.
Career Highlights
Early Career in Rallying: Born in Merano, Italy, Guenther began his professional motorsport career in rallying, achieving success with Mazda before joining the independent Top Run team and later the Jolly Club organisation. As Technical Manager, he contributed to the team's consecutive Italian Rally Championship titles from 1994 to 1996.
Transition to Prodrive and Ford: Guenther's move to Prodrive in Banbury, UK, saw him become team manager for its Allstar Rally Team, winning the European Championship in its first season. This success led to his invitation to join Ford’s rally team, M-Sport, as Director of Engineering, working with World Champions Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz.
Leadership in Formula 1: In 2002, Guenther transitioned to Formula 1 with Jaguar Racing as Managing Director, restructuring the team and achieving a podium finish in Italy with driver Eddie Irvine. After a brief stint with Opel, he returned to Formula 1 with Red Bull Racing and later established Red Bull's NASCAR racing programme in the USA.
Founding the Haas F1 Team: When entrepreneur Gene Haas decided to create a Formula One team, he chose Guenther to lead the effort. Under Guenther’s leadership, Haas F1 Team made its debut in 2016, finishing eighth in the constructor standings with 29 points, the most of any new team in this millennium. Haas F1 became firmly established as one of F1’s leading independent teams, achieving its first Formula 1 pole position in 2022 with driver Kevin Magnussen.
Media and Public Engagement: Guenther has become a media and fan favorite, known for his straight-talking style and keen sense of humor, as showcased in "Drive to Survive." His 2023 book "Survive to Drive" became an instant hit and topped The Sunday Times bestseller list. Fluent in English, German, and Italian, Guenther is one of the most recognized and sought-after figures in Formula 1.
Book Guenther Steiner for your next event for engaging and insightful discussions on leadership, team management, and the business of motorsport. His wealth of experience and dynamic presentation style offer valuable takeaways for diverse audiences.
Listen to Guenther Speak >
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