The courtroom drama between ex-F1 team boss Günther Steiner and his former employer, Haas, has taken a dramatic turn as an American judge ruled in favor of Steiner in a heated legal dispute over the use of copyrighted images in his best-selling book Surviving to Drive. This comes after Steiner was fired ahead of the 2024 season, prompting both sides to launch lawsuits against each other.
Haas alleged that Steiner had unlawfully used images of the team for personal financial gain, arguing that he published them without the team’s permission. “Haas has never given permission for the use of our trademarks,” the team claimed in a formal statement, accusing the fiery Italian engineer of profiting illegally from their brand.
However, the judge sided with Steiner, citing U.S. law that allows the use of such images based on “artistic relevance.” The court recognized that Steiner’s book, which recounts his time as Haas’ team principal, necessarily involved mentioning the team’s name and showcasing related images. The judge explained, “Steiner wants to describe his experiences as team principal of the Haas Formula 1 team, which necessarily requires mentioning the Haas name. Like many sports biographies, the book also contains photographs of the relevant team, which undoubtedly feature the Haas brand name.”
This legal victory marks a significant win for Steiner in what has become an increasingly bitter battle between the former Haas boss and the American racing team. However, this is only the first of multiple legal disputes between the two parties. Steiner has also filed his own lawsuit against Haas, accusing the team of breach of contract, violating local wage laws, and unauthorized use of his image, particularly in the context of his infamous appearances on Netflix’s Drive to Survive.
While Steiner may have won this battle, the ongoing litigation indicates that the war between the outspoken Italian and his former team is far from over. With tensions running high and both sides digging in their heels, the next courtroom showdown could be just as explosive as their time together in the F1 paddock.
