Günther Steiner is experiencing difficult times. © APA/afp / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC

Steiner's Formula 1 team faces losses of millions

For the Haas team led by South Tyrolean team boss Günther Steiner, the race for marketing millions in Formula 1 is becoming increasingly tight.

30 October 2023

From: dpa

After another pointless performance at the Mexican Grand Prix, the US racing team slipped to last place in the constructors' championship. At the end of the season, the team ranking decides on the respective share of the billion-dollar pot of revenue from the racing series. The difference between eighth and tenth place, which is still possible for Haas, is around 15 to 20 million euros in bonus money.

In his 200th Formula 1 race in Mexico City, Nico Hülkenberg was in tenth place until a few laps before the end, which would have secured at least one point. "So close yet so far. I probably knew sooner than anyone else that it wouldn't work. I had to push the tires so hard to keep going,” said the 36-year-old.

“I drove a crazy race, but it wasn’t enough” Nico Hulkenberg

On the final laps, the German slipped to 13th place despite all his defensive skills. “It's a bit disappointing. “I drove a crazy race, but it wasn’t enough,” Hülkenberg told the TV channel Sky.

Kevin Magnussen (front) couldn't get up to speed with the Haas in Mexico either. © ANSA / Jose Mendez

The veteran hasn't scored any points since the sprint in Austria at the beginning of July and remains at nine points. His Danish teammate Kevin Magnussen retired in Mexico after a serious accident and so far only has three points to his name.

Bottom of Formula 1

Because the Australian Daniel Ricciardo finished seventh in the Alpha Tauri with six points, the Red Bull sister team improved from last to eighth place in the team rankings with 16 points. Haas is now four points behind Alpha Tauri and Alfa Romeo. There are still races in São Paulo, Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi until the end of the season.