Team principals leaving Formula 1 can shift a whole team’s dynamic. What may seem like a dream job is one riddled with pressure to perform and if a principal doesn’t perform, their future in F1 is uncertain.

Mattia Binotto was team principal of Scuderia Ferrari from 2019 to 2022. Shortly after Ferrari’s disappointing 2022 season, Binotto resigned and was replaced by Fred Vasseur. Binotto started as an engineer and worked his way up, having helped Ferrari improve and repair their wind tunnel that was hampering their development. The wind tunnel is essentially a racing laboratory used to test aerodynamic features of the car.

Though he helped the team he was let go due to strategic errors that continuously cost the team points, among other reasons. Binotto has now obtained a job at Italian company Texa, which specializes in auto diagnostics, as managing director of their E-Powertrain division.

Guenther Steiner was team principal of Haas from 2016 to 2023. He led the team to finish fifth in the constructor’s championship in 2018, but the team’s performance downgraded under his supervision. The team finished last in the 2023 championship, significantly reducing their inflows for further car development and reinvestment.

Gene Haas, owner of the Haas F1 team, decided along with Steiner that it was time for a strategic change. Steiner left after the end of the 2023 season and was replaced by Ayao Komatsu. Steiner has since obtained a punditry position for RTL, a German broadcaster. His first appearance is set to be during the Bahrain Grand Prix where he will provide his expertise.