Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has worked with some incredible characters during his time in Formula 1.
He’s best known for his time in charge of the American team when they made their F1 debut in 2016.
Guenther Steiner was speaking on the Formula For Success Podcast about his formative time in the sport.
The Italian-born former engineer spent more than a decade employed by rally teams, working alongside the likes of Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz Sr.
However, in 2001 he made the switch to Formula 1 with Jaguar who were acting as Ford’s official works team.
He was there for several years before a stint at Red Bull and then ultimately running the Haas project.
During his time with Jaguar, Steiner met British driver Eddie Irvine and he’s now admitted that he still loves the retired racer.
Irvine was coming to the end of his time in Formula 1 but still proved to be a very quick driver.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Haas F1 Team from team principal to Ferrari relationship
Guenther Steiner admits he still loves former driver Eddie Irvine
Eddie Irvine was one of the quickest drivers of his generation never to win a world championship.
He made the step up from Japanese Formula 3000 to Formula 1 at the end of the 1993 season, driving for Eddie Jordan’s team.
The Northern Irishman joined Ferrari in 1996 and in his final year with the team narrowly missed out on the title, finishing 2 to Mika Hakkinen.
Going up against Michael Schumacher was always going to be a difficult feat both in terms of his talent and the preferential treatment he got against all of his teammates.
The final move of Irvine’s F1 career was to join Jaguar in 2000 and that is where he met Guenther Steiner and completed his career in 2003 with 26 podiums and four wins to his name.
It’s a testament to both Irvine and Steiner’s characters that more than 20 years later the former Haas team boss has admitted he still loves his old driver.
The podcast’s co-host Eddie Jordan couldn’t quite believe it, but it makes sense given Steiner once named the 58-year-old in his dream Formula 1 team.
Guenther Steiner recalls his days at Jaguar F1
Steiner and Eddie Jordan were talking about when they would have first met in Formula 1 and Steiner said: “I don’t really remember when we first met, it must have been in the early 2000s when I was at Jaguar, I’m sure I would have met you there.”
Jordan added: “With [Eddie] Irvine, can you remember those days? I mean how did you survive Irvine?”
Steiner replied: “I actually love Eddie, he keeps you alive! There are a lot of boring people around who make you fall asleep, Eddie’s not one of them.”
The pair are both mavericks in their own way and it’s no wonder that Steiner still loves Irvine to this day after working with him.
The former driver was spotted on the grid at Imola but has not been working in punditry like many drivers once they retire.
His Instagram bio sums him up quite well, “Used to race F1 …. now I avoid stress,” which may explain why he’s only a bystander if he’s ever seen in the paddock.
The post ‘Keeps you alive’: Guenther Steiner admits he absolutely loves 26-podium F1 driver he once worked with appeared first on F1 Oversteer.