Former F1 team boss Guenther Steiner eying MotoGP team CEO role, confirms investment talks

Former Haas Formula One team boss Guenther Steiner has confirmed he is in discussions to invest in a MotoGP team, which could lead to a new role as a squad CEO in the top category of global motorcycle racing.
Steiner was axed as Haas team boss at the end of 2023, eight years after its F1 debut in the 2016 season. Following his exit, he began working extensively as a television pundit in the sport. The Italian-American has also released a second book about his time working in F1 and is the co-owner of a North Carolina-based composites company.
Advertisement
'I'm unemployed but very busy,' he told The Athletic in an exclusive interview.
Reports in recent weeks have linked Steiner with investment in what is a new area of motorsport for the 60-year-old: the Tech3 team in MotoGP. The squad has raced in top-level motorcycle racing since 2001 — mostly as a customer Yamaha squad, before partnering with Austrian manufacturer KTM in 2019.
KTM is currently in the midst of a severe financial crisis, which has left its participation in MotoGP beyond the current bike design rules era that ends in 2026 in doubt. This has led Tech3 to seek outside investment. Current team owner Herve Poncharal recently confirmed talks with Steiner during an interview with the championship's host broadcast at the Aragon motorcycle Grand Prix won by Marc Márquez. Poncharal suggested discussion areas have included a potential full sale of the squad.
'(Steiner is) a very straightforward person and I think a very nice person to eventually work with,' Poncharal said, via TNT. 'So, right now I am listening to the proposal. It could be to come as a shareholder, as a partner, but it could also be to buy the whole team.'
Steiner confirmed the discussions to The Athletic but also insisted a deal was some way off being struck.
'I've looked into it, I speak with quite a few people,' Steiner said. 'I don't want to deny it. I mean, I would be stupid to deny it, but no, it's not done. But I'm working (on it). I always work on projects my whole life and (find) things to do. So, that is one of them because I find (MotoGP) very interesting. Also, a sport which has got a lot of potential to grow because the sport is fabulous — the racing is pretty cool!
'What these guys are doing is bonkers. And I just saw an opportunity. I know a lot of people there and started to work on it. But if it comes to fruition or not, or when, I don't know.'
Steiner said his interest in MotoGP stems from feeling 'the sport is undervalued at the moment', but insisted he believes in its potential with or without F1 commercial rights holder Liberty Media acquiring MotoGP as well. That $4.2billion deal was announced back in April 2024, but was subsequently scrutinised by the European Union's antitrust authority, the European Commission.
Advertisement
Reuters reported in April that approval for the Liberty takeover of MotoGP promoter Dorna will, however, be forthcoming. Liberty Media acquired F1's commercial rights ahead of the 2017 season and embarked on a series of initiatives aimed at growing its reach.
'I think (MotoGP) has got a lot of potential to grow as a sport — a little bit like F1 did,' Steiner said. 'There is a lot of potential there to attract more fans because it's such a good sport.
'I think the sport will grow anyway, with or without Liberty, to be honest. So, I believe in it with or without Liberty. Obviously, Liberty, what they did with F1 is fantastic. And I think they could help make MotoGP bigger for sure.'
A MotoGP move would take Steiner into another area of motorsport after his stints as a mechanic and senior engineer in the World Rally Championship with Mazda, Prodrive and Ford, and as managing director at Jaguar in F1 before becoming technical director in the early days after that team's transformation into the current Red Bull squad in 2005. Most famously, he worked as Haas' first F1 team boss. His position at the American squad gained worldwide fame due to his high-profile participation in the Netflix series 'Drive to Survive' — a key Liberty-approved project aimed at swelling F1's fanbase. It is generally considered to have been a big success for F1.
But when asked if his mooted MotoGP move would involve him resuming team principal duties in a new field or if he was keen to be more of a silent partner this time around having been so heavily involved in Haas' formation, Steiner replied: 'I don't yet know my position, but I cannot stay silent.
'You know me, I cannot be silent! I cannot be completely silent, but maybe I wouldn't do the day-to-day work. Maybe I would be more strategic, like a CEO or something like this. But I've got too many things going on in my life to do this as 100 percent. So, I will put a lot of effort in because I like it. I cannot, if I'm invested in something, just take the back seat.
Advertisement
'I always have opinions and I think there is also my value — I see a lot of things, I've done a lot of things. I'm very old now, by the way, so don't forget that. When you get older, you've got experience and need to try to use it.
'I've never worked in MotoGP. My experience is watching it and speaking with people. Therefore, I say again there's people which know more about the day-to-day MotoGP than me. And I respect that.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Vogue

20 minutes ago

• Vogue

Bally Spring 2026 Menswear Collection

Bally has been linked to sports since the beginning of the Swiss brand, in 1851. Technical footwear has long played a role, too, including Bally's first tennis shoe in 1937, along with various shoes made for horse riding and golf, and the hiking boots used in the 1950s for the first ascent of Mount Everest. Today's Tennis collection for spring 2026 nodded to that history with a mixture of tradition and reinterpretation. Its starting point was the Competition sneaker, originally launched in 1983, now reissued to become more contemporary and sleek, as a celebration of a shoe worn by the Swiss 1992 French Open champions. This Tennis collection—designed by the internal creative team—was not conceived for playing, but instead as an homage to the aesthetics of the sport, which were also evoked through the clothes. The preppy proposals were presented in a white, red, and blue palette that explored late 1930s silhouettes with ample white pants, blue blazers, and spongy polos. The sweatshirts were more ironic, with tennis-related patches and vintage-inspired logos. Knitwear was an off-duty reinterpretation of braided twin-sets. An archival print of small tennis balls was widely used—also in a bright green accent—for short-sleeved shirts and lightweight scarves; the white and burgundy Bally ribbon was reprised, especially for accessories. Retro travel bags, themed canvas totes, and shoulder strap bags in perforated leather—the Bally signature Beckett model—were among the main accessories, together with more playful ones such as the cylindrical (and unconventional) clutch, the racket holder and a micro-tennis-ball-shaped keychain.

The Verge

21 minutes ago

• The Verge

Tech billionaire's sunken superyacht raised from the sea.

Posted Jun 22, 2025 at 5:22 PM UTC Tech billionaire's sunken superyacht raised from the sea. The AP, CNN, and Reuters report that Italian authorities are continuing to investigate last year's sinking of Autonomy founder Mike Lynch's superyacht, Bayesian, during a storm last year that killed seven people, including Lynch. A salvage operation lifted the 184-foot from the seafloor this weekend, after first removing its 236-foot mast.

CNN

25 minutes ago

• CNN

How I used 7,000 Amex points to fly home from London this summer

CNN Underscored reviews financial products based on their overall value. We may receive a commission through our affiliate partners if you apply and are approved for a product, but our reporting is always independent and objective. This may impact how links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit to learn more. Flying to Europe in the peak summer travel season can cost a fortune. Cash fares can skyrocket, and award availability is often limited. But with the right transfer bonus and a bit of flexibility, you can unlock serious value from your travel rewards. This summer, I flew one-way from London Heathrow (LHR) to San Francisco (SFO) for just 7,000 American Express Membership Rewards points, a fraction of what most travelers would expect to pay. The key? A 30% transfer bonus from Amex to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, which brought the required 9,000 Flying Club points down to just 7,000 Amex points. Here's exactly how I did it — and how you might be able to replicate the strategy next time a bonus like this rolls around. Related article These are our favorite credit cards for Delta flyers in 2025A post shared by Kyle Olsen (@kyleolsen10) Before you redeem your Amex points, you'll need to earn points. Here's a look at several of the best Amex card offers right now, which you can transfer to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. American Express® Business Gold Card: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Limited Time Travel Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel with your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. You can earn one or both of these offers. Offer ends June 30, 2025. There are several different ways you can redeem your Amex points. While some card members may redeem their points directly in the Amex Travel Portal, they can also be transferred to various airline and hotel transfer partners, including Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is one of the most underappreciated airline loyalty programs, especially for transatlantic flights in economy class. While major US carriers may charge 30,000 to 40,000 miles (or more) for a one-way flight between Europe and the US, Virgin Atlantic regularly prices economy award tickets from 6,000 points. I found availability from London to San Francisco for just 9,000 points plus £220 (around $300) in June, and it ended up being one of the best redemptions I've made all year. Credit card issuers like American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou American Express often run limited-time transfer bonuses to their travel partners. In October 2024, there was a 30% bonus from Amex to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. That meant every 1,000 Amex Membership Rewards points transferred would become 1,300 Flying Club points. I transferred 37,000 Amex points for various Virgin redemptions I had in mind, and those became 48,100 Flying Club points, thanks to the transfer bonus. In short, instead of needing to transfer the full 9,000 points, the transfer bonus would've only required me to transfer 7,000 Amex points, which would've yielded 9,100 Flying Club points after the 30% bonus. That was just enough to cover my flight. To put that in perspective, I got a 10-hour transatlantic flight for the equivalent of 7,000 Amex points, plus taxes and fees, which is a fantastic redemption, especially during peak travel season. I found that London to San Francisco flight by searching directly on Virgin Atlantic's website. That £220 (around $300) in taxes and fees is relatively high, as are all Virgin's fees on UK departures due to airport and fuel surcharges, but even with the cash spend factored in, this was an exceptional value. The process was simple: I located award availability on my preferred date. I transferred 7,000 Amex points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Within minutes, the points posted, and I completed the booking. I flew in Virgin Atlantic Economy Classic, which includes the following. One 23-kilogram (50-pound) checked bag Standard seat selection at check-in Complimentary meals, drinks and entertainment The flight itself was smooth, and the service on board was friendly and efficient. While Economy Light fares are cheaper in cash, I appreciated the added benefits of Economy Classic, especially the included luggage. Even though this exact 30% transfer bonus has expired, Amex frequently offers new ones. Here's what to do if you want to replicate this redemption strategy. Monitor Amex transfer bonuses via your Membership Rewards account. Create a Virgin Atlantic Flying Club account (if you don't already have one). Search for award availability before transferring points. Remember: Amex transfers to Virgin Atlantic are instant but nonreversible. If you find a 9,000-point flight and a 30% bonus is active, you'll only need 7,000 Amex points. Otherwise, you'll need to transfer 9,000 Amex points, which is still a great deal. Using just 7,000 Amex points to fly from London to San Francisco was a smart, high-value redemption — and a reminder that timing matters in award travel. By combining a low-cost redemption with a limited-time transfer bonus, I got more than 8 cents per point in value, a rare feat for economy travel. If you're flexible with your travel plans and pay attention to transfer bonuses, redemptions like this are very possible. For business travelers, budget-conscious vacationers or anyone trying to stretch their points further, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club should be on your radar, especially when a points transfer bonus sweetens the deal. The following FAQs have been answered by CNN Underscored travel editor and credit card expert Kyle Olsen. How much are 100,000 Amex points worth for flights? How much are 100,000 Amex points worth for flights? 100,000 Amex Membership Rewards points are worth at least $1,000 when you redeem them for flights through Amex Travel, but you can get much more — up to $5,000 — by transferring to airline partners and booking premium cabin international flights. The value depends on how you redeem, but travel website The Points Guy values 100,000 Amex points at $2,000. Do Amex points ever expire? Do Amex points ever expire? Amex Membership Rewards points don't expire as long as you keep your account open, but you can lose them if you close all eligible cards, miss payments or violate program terms. We recommend keeping your account active and in good standing to retain your points. How do I use my Amex points most efficiently? How do I use my Amex points most efficiently? For the best value, transfer Amex points to airline partners to book premium cabin or international flights. Other options like hotel transfers, gift cards or statement credits usually offer less value. Booking through Amex Travel is easy, but it typically yields just 1 cent per point. CNN Underscored is your trusted source for credit card and travel rewards strategies because our editors don't just write about points; we use them. For this guide, travel editor and credit card expert Kyle Olsen shares his firsthand experience booking a real transatlantic flight using just 7,000 Amex points. Every detail is backed by real-world research, insider knowledge and a commitment to accuracy, so you can confidently apply these tips to your own travel plans. Click here for rates and fees of the American Express Gold card. Click here for rates and fees of the American Express Platinum card. Click here for rates and fees of the American Express Business Gold card. Click here for rates and fees of the American Express Business Platinum card. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.