Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has decided to lead the Tech3 MotoGP team takeover rather than return to Formula 1, driven by his desire for a fresh professional challenge. A consortium led by Steiner recently acquired KTM’s satellite team from Herve Poncharal, setting the stage for his new role in motorcycle racing.
New Leadership and Roles in the Tech3 MotoGP Team
Under the agreement, Steiner will become CEO of the Tech3 squad starting in 2026, with his business partner Richard Coleman stepping in as the team principal to replace Poncharal. This shift marks a significant career move for Steiner, who is best known for founding the Haas F1 team but has extensive experience across various motorsport disciplines.
Steiner’s Diverse Motorsport Background Fuels His MotoGP Ambitions
Before his Formula 1 tenure, Steiner built his career in rallying as a mechanic during the 1980s and later contributed to launching Red Bull’s NASCAR team in 2006. Taking on the MotoGP challenge adds a fourth major motorsport discipline to his resume. Although he has stayed connected to F1 as a pundit since leaving Haas at the end of 2023, Steiner chose to pursue a role that offers more direct involvement and autonomy.
Why Steiner Chose MotoGP Over Another Formula 1 Role
Reflecting on his decision, Steiner explained,
“Why not another project in Formula 1? First of all, I would say [MotoGP] is something I always looked at and never had time [for], and it was interesting,”
highlighting his long-standing interest in motorcycle racing. He added,
Image of: MotoGP
“I think Formula 1 is at the stage [where] I’ve done it, I’ve been there long enough, so I [wanted to] do something new. I always like new challenges. I moved to the States to open up a NASCAR team when I was in Formula 1.”
He elaborated on the appeal of varied motorsport experiences:
“Formula 1 is fantastic, but it’s not the only thing you can do in motorsport. I always like challenges in my life to do something new because when we started, I thought, ‘do you think I can make this happen?’ And we made it happen.”
Full Control and New Opportunities Drive the Move
Coleman revealed Steiner had several opportunities to return to Formula 1 but wanted a project where he could have complete control. After Haas declined to renew his contract two years ago, Steiner sought an environment aligned with his vision and leadership style.
According to Coleman,
“Guenther’s had quite a few offers and bits and bobs in Formula 1, but we’ve both been in environments where we’ve had strained relationships with people we’ve worked with, and we just wanted to do something that was very much on our terms, that we had full control over,”
indicating their preference for autonomy. He added,
“So, looking at it like a five-year horizon, we’re pretty excited as to what we think we can do in this paddock.”
Long-Term Vision and Commitment to Success in MotoGP
Both Steiner and Coleman acknowledge that entering MotoGP will require a learning curve, but they intend to build a competitive team rather than merely participate. Coleman stated,
“We approach that with total humility, and we’re gonna take a while to learn, but we don’t want to just make up the numbers. So we have to look at a project that we thought we’d ultimately be able to succeed in, in the long term.”
This new chapter for Steiner, a seasoned motorsport figure connected to significant names like Gene Haas, KTM, and Red Bull, reflects both his confidence and readiness to lead a bold team transformation in a fresh racing arena.
