Haas sues Günther Steiner

Steiner, who was one of the founding elements of the team Haas, which arrived in Formula 1 in 2016, last year published a book recounting a year in F1, “Surviving To Drive”. The book uses a photo of the Haas from the 2022 season on its cover, which is why the American team decides to take legal action against its previous Team Principal. We discover it in documents addressed to the Central District of California, Western Division.

“In 2023, without the authorization or consent of Haas Automation, Steiner authored, marketed, promoted, sold, distributed, and profited from a publication entitled “Surviving to Drive,” which illegally used and displayed, and continues to use and display the Haas Automation trademarks and Haas Automation trade dress for Steiner's personal financial gain and illicit profit. Haas Automation has never consented to Steiner's use of the Haas Automation trademarks or Haas Automation trade dress on the infringing product.", we can read in the official documents.

150 sales for “Surviving To Drive”!

The team also explains that it first tried to resolve the situation amicably, by warning Steiner before taking legal action: “Haas Automation notified Steiner prior to the lawsuit, but to date, Steiner has not taken any action to cease or mitigate its infringing acts, necessitating the current lawsuit. Information available online indicates that as of January 2024, the incriminated product would have exceeded sales by at least 150 units and generated revenue of at least $000. »

Steiner himself attacked his former team at the beginning of May for failure to pay various commissions that the American team owed him. It remains to be seen what the next chapters of this affair will be!