“You can take Guenther out of F1, but not F1 out of Guenther.” This is the most apt phrase for Haas’ former boss. The man who once stirred not just Haas but F1’s waters continues to do the same. Guenther Steiner‘s unfiltered opinion on matters makes him an interesting character from the chapters of Formula 1. The former team boss has taken up the responsibility to make a list of drivers who could be Nico Hulkenberg’s teammate at Audi.

Drivers like Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen have found their names on Guenther’s list. In fact, they are active members of the transfer market now. However, Zhou Guanyu failed to make it on the list. He is also in the drivers market but isn’t receiving any attention from teams. The verdict is harsh, but if we look at it from the game’s point of view, Steiner might be right. Zhou’s 2024 season has been anything but impressive and successful. But then, Valtteri should also be off the list; he isn’t, thanks to his experience in F1, and he is also one of the top contenders for the second seat in Sauber/Audi.

Guenther Steiner feels Zhou Guanyu has passed his sell-by date. “I think Zhou will struggle to find a seat again next year. I think Valtteri [Bottas] has a chance now to stay at Sauber next year because Carlos [Sainz] hasn’t signed there. But otherwise, I would think he’s someone who would leave. Kevin Magnussen doesn’t have a seat at the moment.” Audi targeted the Spanish driver Carlos Sainz, but he did not reciprocate the interest. Meanwhile, with no seat for the next season, Kevin Magnussen is also available; imagine a Hulkenberg-Magnussen reunion!

Guenther Steiner highlighted that all teams, especially those in the midfield, are aiming for success in the 2026 season, anticipating significant changes with the new regulations. He noted that only the results from 2026 will reveal the true impact of these changes. Steiner also mentioned that Haas’ strategy of nurturing young talent could improve their performance, a viewpoint echoed by their former boss.

Guenther Steiner understands why Haas is giving young talents a chance in 2025

Steiner had a distressing season with Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin at Haas. The damage was high, and the cost of damage control was too much for a disappointing season. Since then, the former team boss has decided never to keep inexperienced rookies on the team. But times have changed, and so has Guenther Steiner’s designation. He is no longer the head of Haas, so decision-making isn’t his job anymore.

Meanwhile, keeping aside the skepticism, Guenther has welcomed Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon to the team. A rookie and an experienced driver would be a great balance for starters. “I think there are no alternatives at the moment because there are too many drivers who have had their best time. And then maybe it is better to take a risk and get someone young,” the former team boss said. Everyone is preparing for 2026, and everyone wants to win. Haas is no exception, so keeping young talents could be beneficial. This is because these drivers will be hungry for wins—everyone wants to relish their first win, isn’t it?

Hopefully, within the next few days, we’ll get to know if Guenther Steiner’s predictions are true or not. As Audi is expected to announce their second driver soon, speculations are building. Meanwhile, it’ll be interesting to see what Haas’ new duo can do from 2025 onwards. F1 just keeps getting more interesting with time!