Latest news with #Tech3
New York Times
2 days ago
- Automotive
- New York Times
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.'
The Citizen
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Brad Binder out to find ‘extra speed' on his KTM at Le Mans
Maverick Vinales has given the orange garage reason to be more optimistic of late. Brad Binder will look to further improve on what has been a disappointing MotoGP season so far at the French Gand Prix at the weekend. Binder recorded his best finish of sixth place at the last outing in Spain two weeks ago, but knows he is capable of much more. After five rounds, the Red Bull KTM rider is 11th in the world championship on 32 points. That is more than a hundred points off title race leaders Alex (140) and Marc Marquez (139). 'I still need to work on my all-out pace. I'm not fast enough,' Binder said after the Spanish Grand Prix. 'My consistency was good, but I just need that extra speed. I need to find that small extra comfort to be able to push on again.' Brad Binder upbeat after testing While Binder and his team-mate Pedro Acosta (33 points) are leading the charge for KTM in the title race, the recent form of Maverick Vinales has given the orange garage lots of hope. The Tech3 rider came fourth in the main race in Spain and was also the second fastest during testing the day after the race at Jerez. Binder was also confident after the official testing session, during which he posted the 13th fastest time. ALSO READ: VIDEO: Brad Binder's MotoGP Red Bull KTM RC16 from up close 'We tried some different chassis modifications and it feels pretty positive and it has definitely helped my weakest point from the weekend, which was edge grip. My drive is slightly better, my feeling is coming along,' he said. Upward curve KTM technical director Sebastian Risse believes the feedback from testing will put his riders in good stead. 'We are also working for the future in terms of aero homologation, chassis and electronics: in all these areas we made gains with data. We'll be busy with analysis in the coming weeks and to bring the positives back to the track as soon as possible,' Risse said. ALSO READ: Brad Binder to start 2025 MotoGP season 'a much better rider' Acosta, who underwent surgery on a troublesome arm after Jerez, was cleared to race in France. The lights go out for the sprint race in France at 3pm on Saturday and 2pm for the main race on Sunday. Moodley out with injury After missing out on the points in Spain, Brad Binder's brother Darry Binder will be looking to bounce back at the 4.19km Le Mans Bugatti Grand Prix track. The Gresini Moto2 rider is 17th in the title race. It is unlikely teenager Ruché Moodley will return to the track any time after undergoing surgery on a fractured wrist after the Spanish MotoGP. The Denssi/BOE Motorsport rider, who scored points in three of his first four starts, broke his right wrist in a first-round crash at Jerez.
