F1 News: Otmar Szafnauer Hailed as Guenther Steiner’s Perfect Replacement as Haas Undergo Major Changes

Haas has been going through some major changes after a difficult season and standing second last in 2023. Drivers Hülkenberg and Magnussen didn’t manage to get single podium standings, and the drivers stood 16th and 19th respectively in the 2023 season. This led to team boss Günther Steiner leaving, Ayao Komatsu getting promoted to team boss, and Haas having an opening for the COO position.

In a recent interview uploaded to the Formula1.de YouTube Channel, Ralf Schumacher discusses the separation between Haas and Günther Steiner. Along with that, he gives fans his opinion on who he thinks is a fitting replacement for the role.

Schumacher believes Szafnauer to be perfect for the COO role

During the interview with Formula1.de, Ralf Schumacher suggested that Otmar Szafnauer would be an ideal candidate for the COO position. He says, “After parting ways with team boss Günther Steiner, the American team needs someone who can motivate a team, who can take them along, who can cheer them on. And I think Otmar is perfect for that.” Szafnauer’s known expertise in Formula 1, technical competence, and ability to find and nurture talent are why Schumacher believes he would fit like a glove.

Szafnauer’s Formula 1 career began in 1998 at BAR. He later worked for Honda, Force India, and Alpine, gaining valuable experience. This experience is crucial for the role Haas is looking to fill. Szafnauer’s success in managing small and underfunded teams, particularly Force India, is noteworthy. His track record suggests that he would seamlessly fit into the environment at Haas.

When Szafnauer faced expulsion from Alpine in 2023, Günther Steiner publicly commented that such situations are part of the job. Steiner believed that Szafnauer would quickly overcome the setback. After Steiner made his move out of Haas, the opening gave for Haas to explore its possibilities and according to Schumacher, Szafnauer is the right man for the job.

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Other changes within Haas

Haas F1 Team is facing a setback as its Technical Director, Simone Resta, has reportedly left the team ahead of the 2024 Formula 1 season. According to reports from Motorsport Italy, Resta is likely to either return to Ferrari or join the Stake team. Both Resta and Guenther Steiner left Haas on the same day, which means that Haas had 2 roles to fill.

After the departure of Günther Steiner, Ayao Komatsu was promoted to the position of Team Principal at Haas. Gene Haas announced this decision on January 10, 2024, after ten years of collaboration with Steiner. Before his promotion, Ayao Komatsu held the position of Director of Engineering at Haas with knowledge of the technical aspects of Formula 1, making him well-versed in the engineering aspects of the team.

To improve performance, Haas introduced a major car upgrade at the US Grand Prix during the 2022 season. However, the upgrade did not yield immediate improvements, and Nico Hulkenberg even reverted to the old-spec car towards the end of the season.

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Through all the changes, Ralf Schumacher supports the idea of Otmar Szafnauer becoming the COO for Haas. Do you think Otmar Szafnauer would be the right boss for Haas? Let us know what you think of Ralf’s opinion.