Next part of our Formula 1 series: Greetings from Quarantine. This time: Haas team boss Günther Steiner on the challenges during the corona crisis
Günther Steiner (54) has always been an early bird. He is used to that from his childhood. His father was a butcher in his hometown of Merano and taught him that life doesn’t thank you if you sleep in late. The South Tyrolean has taken this to heart all his life.
That is why the experienced motorsport manager drinks his first coffee at six in the morning. He lives in the United States, where he already ended up in 2006. On normal days, he leaves his home in Mooresville, North Carolina 30min later to drive to his office, which is a 10-minute drive away. From there, he heads the Haas F1 team, which has been in Formula 1 with a relatively small budget since 2016 and yet regularly scores points.
Yet, there aren’t normal days for him either, at the moment. The coronavirus has changed a lot. It has now reached the southern states of the United States. On March 3, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced the first infected patient. On March 25 there were already 500 infected people and the first death occurred. For the time being, all schools and restaurants are closed to curb the spread of the virus. Only the numerous drive-ins are still open.
“In America, especially in the southern states, it is difficult to lock up people up completely,” explains Steiner, “but in North Carolina people have become very careful. Of course, also because all sporting events in the USA are put on hold for now. ”
In short: “Everything seems calmer than usual. People have respect for the future but are not afraid. That is why there are no hamster purchases yet. The shelves in the supermarkets are currently fully stocked as usual. ”
Steiner gives a reason for this: “Everything is more extensive here in the south than on the west coast or in cities like New York. Somehow the time passes more slowly, there is less stress, less hectic, no traffic jams. The risk of getting infected is therefore also less. Still, most of them voluntarily discipline themselves, keep enough distance and try to defeat the virus without drastic curfews. ”
Because, according to Steiner, “In my opinion, life still has to go on somehow. Personal freedom is the greatest asset in the United States. A lot has to happen before the National Guard deploys and ensures a declared state of emergency. Of course, harsher measures cannot be ruled out in the future. ”
Like all of his neighbors, Steiner chose to work from home as a preventive measure and chose voluntary quarantine. Steiner: “I go shopping twice a week, otherwise I stay in the house.” His wife Gertie and ten-year-old daughter Greta support him in this. Steiner: “My office door always stays closed for four hours. You respect the seriousness of the situation. That’s why Greta is currently studying with my wife. She’s relaxed in her free time. She could always deal with herself very well. Now she draws and ages even more. ”
But, of course: working from your home office has also positive effects. As a family, you move closer together. Steiner: “We go for a long walk every day. I didn’t work before. I live in a rather sparsely populated area, that’s not a problem. ”
There is no question of hanging around. “I have a lot of work to do. Constant video conferencing, phone calls. I have to keep the company going, especially financially. ” The employees who are based in England, the USA and partly in Italy have to be encouraged at the moment. “But,” says the South Tyrolean with an American passport, “also serve them inspirations why they should have courage. I’m not a priest, I’m a team leader. ”
One problem with this: Of course, a smaller team with a limited budget‘s hit harder because of the compulsory break in races. There is no TV revenue, no entry fees from the organizers. Steiner: “That‘s why daily crisis management‘s required. But you must never forget tomorrow. Even if nobody knows at the moment when it is. The company cannot crash now. ”
According to the South Tyrolean: “When the green lights return, we have to be ready to offer something to the fans immediately. My hope is that it will start again in July. Because especially in times of crisis, people need bread and games. And that’s exactly what we have to do at some point. ”