Guenther Steiner, the no-nonsense team principal of Haas, solidified his image as a man unafraid to speak his mind with his notorious outburst during the 2019 Australian GP. With blunt honesty, he said, “We could have looked like rock stars. But now we look like a f**king bunch of w*nkers. A bunch of f***ing clowns,” highlighted his no-nonsense approach. Steiner’s candidness has become a defining trait in the Haas paddock. His unfiltered remarks and straightforward approach set him apart in a sport that often treads carefully around his public image. Fast forward 4 years and Steiner’s candid nature is attributed, ironically, to the influence of an F1 legend–Niki Lauda.

Niki Lauda, whose shadow looms large over this story. A legend in the world of F1, Niki Lauda was known to be as straight as an arrow. His words were like a sharp blade, cutting right through all the nonsense. They say a picture paints a thousand words, but Niki Lauda could say a thousand things in just one sentence. Lauda’s way of speaking wasn’t just a quirk; it was like a symphony, where every note matters. No sugar-coating, no beating around the bush, just straight to the point. And as they say, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Guenther took that to heart, making it part of his identity, as his time working with Niki Lauda played a part in shaping his candid approach.

In the TG1F F1 podcast with the dynamic duo of Kate and Nicole, they asked Guenther Steiner about his rather candid way of speaking. Steiner, firm as a rock, answered, “No, I was always pretty outspoken about things. Obviously, it depends also at the circumstances you work in if you can use it or not. But then when I work with Niki Lauda, obviously there he was the master in that to say a lot in as little as possible, you know. So in, in, in, in that reinforce my way of doing things as well. And from there onwards I said, I mean I drive myself or I do something.”

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While Steiner’s candidness finds resonance in the legacy of Niki Lauda, the Austrian maestro, who secured three F1 world championships during his illustrious career, was known for his fearless nature and candid expressions.

Niki Lauda’s legacy

Niki Lauda’s unapologetic way of speaking his mind was a hallmark of his personality, Lauda’s ability to articulate his thoughts, even in the face of adversity, resonates with Steiner’s own candid communication style. When reflecting on his life-altering accident during the 1976 German Grand Prix, Lauda’s words “You try to keep your brain working to get the body ready to fight.” This resilience through adversity echoed in both their journeys, underlines the essence of their shared philosophy.

Niki Lauda’s candidness was evident even when dealing with legendary figures. His directness shone through when he criticized a Ferrari car during testing, stating, “The car is sh*t… The understeer is like hell. It doesn’t work.” This audacious honesty demonstrated his commitment to improvement, regardless of reputation. After his near-fatal crash and incredible recovery, Lauda left Ferrari in 1977 due to feeling mistreated.

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What do you think about Gunther Steiners’ outspoken approach?