Another key figure leaves Haas after argument with team owner – report
Simone Resta had been with Haas since 2021 having previously worked for Ferrari.
Hours before Guenther Steiner’s shock departure, Haas senior staff member Simone Resta has also left the team just a few weeks before the 2024 car will be unveiled.
According to the Italian edition of Motorsport.com, technical director Resta has left due to disagreements with owner Gene Haas and a reported lack of “motivation.”
The duo’s departure represents a major upheaval at Haas just weeks before the F1 2024 season is due to begin. Read the full story on Guenther Steiner’s exit here.
Simone Resta walks out on Haas after disagreement with owner
Resta joined Haas from Ferrari in January 2021 with the Italian set to help the team running on Ferrari powered engines.
But the results have not been good since then with Haas finishing bottom in 2023 after an inherent problem was found with their chassis design.
Resta reportedly discussed the plans of the team with owner Gene Haas but was left unsatisfied and as a result, has walked out on the newest addition to the F1 grid.
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Motorsport.com suggest that Resta “no longer found the motivation in Haas” and disagreements began in 2023 when he was eager to spend the development budget on the first version of the VF-23.
Gene Haas wanted the car to follow the design of Red Bull instead which is reported as being the main sticking point between the two parties.
As to where Resta may go, a return to Ferrari could be on the cards after he first joined them in 2001 while a move to Audi could also be a possibility.
Speaking following the F1 2023 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Haas driver Kevin Magnussen admitted that it has been a “tough” year for the team.
However, he wanted to look at this in a positive way with a view to F1 2024, looking at Haas’ woes as “character building” for a “big opportunity” to improve in the season ahead.
“I guess as always, there’s many things to be learned when it’s this tough, that you wouldn’t have learned if it was smooth sailing,” he told media including PlanetF1.com.
“It’s character building and it’s strength, you get resilient. We build-up resilience to hard times.
“It’s not something I enjoy, I haven’t enjoyed this year too much, but there’s always another day to fight. Next year is another big opportunity for us.”
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