Haas files lawsuit against Guenther Steiner over alleged trademark infringement in his book, ‘Surviving to Drive’

Gunther Steiner was sacked by Haas ahead of the 2024 F1 season.

Haas files lawsuit against Guenther Steiner over alleged trademark infringement in his book, ‘Surviving to Drive’

Gene Haas [L] Gunther Steiner [R] (images via IMAGO)

Haas and Gunther Steiner have been sharing anger-charged blows at each other for quite some time. After being ousted by the team ahead of the 2024 season, the Italian-American has been playing a game of cat-and-mouse with his previous employer. This has subsequently led the Gene Haas-owned team to file a lawsuit against its former team principal for trademark infringement.

Since leaving his team principal duties, Guenther Steiner has ensued a different role and turned into a commentator and a columnist with F1. Moreover, he has fulfilled his dream of writing a book behind the covers and released it in April of 2023. However, this release has now turned into a legal battle as both parties have blamed each other for financial and copyright infringements in the past few weeks.

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Steiner led the charge of Haas from 2016-2023.

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In 2023, without permission or consent from Haas Automation, Steiner authored, marketed, promoted, sold, distributed, and profited from a publication titled “Surviving to Drive” (the “Accused Product”), which unlawfully used and displayed, and continues to use and display, the Haas Automation Trademarks and the Haas Automation Trade Dress for Steiner’s personal financial gain and illicit profit. Haas Automation never consented to Steiner’s use of the Haas Automation Trademarks or the Haas Automation Trade Dress on the Accused Product. Haas Automation gave pre-lawsuit notice to Steiner but to date Steiner has taken no action to cease or mitigate his infringing acts, necessitating the instant lawsuit.
The lawsuit papers stated

Haas and its lawyers claimed that Steiner’s book included images that breached trademark regulations. Moreover, they accused the Italian-American and the publisher, Ten Speed Press of acting unlawfully and not procuring consent for using the alleged images beforehand. It is anticipated that the lawsuit will take from weeks to months to conclude as it is a high-profile case involving a breach of trust between two parties.

Will Haas give equal treatment to their drivers after Nico Hulkenberg’s Audi announcement ?

On one hand, the American team is stuck in lawsuits against his previous team principal, and on the other hand, the Kannapolis-based team lost Nico Hulkenberg to Audi for the 2025 season. This raised questions in the paddock about whether Haas will treat both of its drivers equally or if will there be any discrepancy.

Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen (Via IMAGO)
Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen (Via IMAGO)

Following the speculations, Kevin Magnussen rejected claims of favouritism by the team.

I don't think so. I think it will continue to be fair and good. The team and I both have a vested interest in finishing the season as well and successfully as possible. We want to try and beat all the other midfield teams, and I don't think that's entirely unrealistic given the way things look today. We will continue to work as a team in the right direction.
Kevin Magnussen said in an interview with Motorsports.com

The Danish driver stated that he does not expect Haas to give any bias to one driver over the other. Moreover, he claims that there are high levels of teamwork and sportsmanship between the two, as depicted earlier, and both of them would give their all to score points for the team even in the coming rounds.

Despite Magnussen’s relaxed demeanour, his seat on the team is under threat for next year. So, there is a need for an increase in his points finishes, which would warrant him a drive for the 2025 F1 season.

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