Marco Bezzecchi
Guenther Steiner will assume control of the Tech3 MotoGP team in 2026 after striking a deal with Herve Poncharal.
The 60-year-old, who is well-known for his role as Formula 1 team principal at Haas from 2016 to 2023, will now delve into the world of motorcycles. Steiner will become the owner of KTM satellite team Tech3 after completing a deal with his consortium of investors.
It comes after Liberty Media completed their takeover of MotoGP earlier this year. The American media company have had incredible success in expanding the global audience of F1; they are predicted to do the same with the premier class.
Subsequently, several figures in F1 have expressed interest in investing in MotoGP teams, with the likes of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton holding talks with numerous outfits. Steiner is the first to get a deal over the line.
His popularity, thanks to Netflix’s documentary series Drive to Survive, has created huge excitement for his new venture with Tech3. Liberty are already planning a documentary about Steiner, which would focus on his efforts with the French team.
Guenther Steiner doesn’t want ‘everything on my shoulders anymore’ as he won’t be Tech3 team principal
Steiner has a wealth of experience in leading teams in motorsport, as seen from his time in F1. However, he will act as the CEO of Tech3 in 2026, with the team principal role being taken by his business partner Richard Coleman.
Speaking with Speedweek, he explained that he no longer wanted to have all the responsibility on his shoulders like he did at Haas. He will not attend every MotoGP race as Tech3 boss, due to his commitments to being an F1 pundit for TV across the world.
“I want to help build the team, make it bigger,” he said. “I have so many other things going on in my life. If I say I’m the team boss, then I’m doing it 100 percent; I can’t do anything else on the side.
“Unfortunately, I can’t say that at the moment. That’s why I’m the CEO. I’ll be there a lot, not at all the races, but at many.
“I want to maintain this connection [in F1], also so I always know what’s going on. That’s important. Otherwise, I only think about MotoGP. I want to build it up.
“And I believe that MotoGP will change with the takeover of Liberty Media, meaning it will grow faster, commercially too. It’s great to be there, but it will take a lot of energy.
“I didn’t want to have everything on my shoulders anymore. I get along well with Richard; he’s still young enough for the job. I’ll definitely lead the way, but I’ll leave the day-to-day business to him.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Tech3 owner Guenther Steiner, including F1 history
Guenther Steiner will face immediate pressure as Tech3 are under huge uncertainty at KTM
In 2025, Tech3 have had a difficult season as new signings Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini have struggled for consistency. The former has suffered with injury in recent races, while the latter is beginning to find his feet, finishing third at Montmelo.
Steiner had demanded a podium at the Catalan GP, and Bastianini delivered for Tech3 and KTM to finish behind the Marquez brothers. However, those results will need to keep coming as the team’s future with the Austrian manufacturer is uncertain.
Steiner has secured Tech3’s grid slot with Dorna for the next five years, but KTM’s financial crisis over the winter has put their MotoGP project into jeopardy. The manufacturer is committed to motorsport until 2026, but their new owners’ cuts could have damaging consequences.
Neil Hodgson warned Steiner that Tech3 must keep up these results, or Bajaj Auto could look to pull KTM out of MotoGP. If that were to happen, Honda could buy Tech3, with Dorna drawing that up as a ‘Plan B’ in the event KTM drops off the grid.
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