(Motorsports news) Steiner has filed legal documents in Mecklenburg, North Carolina, claiming that his previous Haas team violated his employment agreement by failing to pay him commissions he was due over a period of years.
In addition, he asserts that the group, which he left at the end of the previous year when his contract was not extended, is still using him on its official website and selling products using his name and likeness. He claims that this is being done without his permission and that he is also not receiving the royalties that he claims he is entitled to.
Steiner presents his case in the court documents—many of which have had specifics withheld—that he ought to have received payment for commissions that were owed to him in 2021, 2022, and 2023 and that were within the time frame of his most recent employment agreement.
“Has F1 chosen not to renew Mr. Gunther Employment Agreement,” according to court documents. It was correct to do this. However, Haas F1 has refused to pay Mr. Steiner the [amount redacted] that he is owed under his employment agreement, acting in a manner that is beyond its authority.
“But Haas F1 cannot withhold from Mr. Gunther the benefits he has earned after years of accepting the benefits of Mr. Steiner’s reputation, experience, and deep connections within the sport,” the statement continued.
The details of the commissions that Steiner claims he is due are not disclosed in the court documents, although they may be connected to sponsorship agreements he helped the team secure.
Moreover, Steiner feels that Haas has not behaved appropriately in keeping his name and trademark.
According to the court filing, Haas gained a great deal from Steiner’s participation in the Netflix series Drive to Survive, where he rose to prominence.
“Mr. Steiner’s involvement in the show attracted an increasing number of fans to Haas F1 and the series featured Haas F1 on a regular basis,” it stated.
“The new racing team found this exposure to be very valuable, especially as it searched for other sources of income to sustain itself in the infamously expensive Formula 1 environment.”
Steiner asserts that after the termination of his employment contract, Haas has persisted in profiting off his reputation and brand, something that is prohibited.
“Haas F1 has no right to use Mr. Steiner’s name, image, and likeness or to exploit them in any form of media following the termination of his employment,” the court records stated.
“Mr. Steiner has not received payment from Has F1 for its unlawful use of his name, image, and likeness.”
