Steiner sues Haas for unpaid commissions, unauthorized use of likeness

Former Haas principal Guenther Steiner is suing the F1 team for breaching a contract by refusing to pay commissions from his last employment agreement and for not compensating him for merchandise that's currently sold with his likeness, according to documents obtained by Madeline Coleman of The Athletic.

Steiner believes he's owed unpaid money from 2021-23 before he left Haas in January 2024, per the lawsuit.

How much the 59-year-old is owed and what the commissions are for isn't clear as many details of the lawsuit were redacted following a motion by his lawyers, according to Coleman.

"After years of accepting the benefits of Mr. Steiner's reputation, experience, and deep connections within the sport, Haas F1 cannot withhold from Mr. Steiner the benefits he has earned," Steiner's attorneys said.

Steiner said he's owed royalties because Haas is still using his name, image, and likeness for promotions and merchandise, according to the lawsuit.

Steiner's lawyers also said that Haas benefited from his popularity on Netflix's "Formula 1: Drive to Survive" series.

"This exposure was extremely valuable to the upstart racing team, particularly as it looked for additional revenue streams to support itself in the notoriously expensive Formula 1 environment," the attorneys stated.