After a period away from the racing world following his departure from the Haas Formula 1 Team, Gunther Steiner is preparing for a major comeback by acquiring his own racing team. The former Haas team principal is now on the verge of entering the MotoGP paddock with a bold move: the purchase of the French Tech3 team. This marks a significant shift in Steiner’s career, as he transitions from the four-wheel world of Formula 1 to the high-speed two-wheel universe of MotoGP.
His new venture coincides with the recent arrival of Liberty Media in the MotoGP landscape, a move that promises to accelerate the commercial and global growth of the sport in a way similar to what was achieved in Formula 1. Gunther Steiner is not making this leap alone—he will be supported by a group of wealthy investors, including Apex, an investment group that manages portfolios for several prominent sports personalities, including some current Formula 1 drivers. The acquisition of the Tech3 team could be finalized in the coming weeks, with other satellite teams potentially following suit as the sport prepares for major structural changes by 2027.
It is currently a frenetic and highly exciting period for the MotoGP World Championship. While Ducati and Marc Márquez continue to dominate on the track, it is off-track business dealings among influential and wealthy entrepreneurs that are shaping the future of the series. The outlook is promising: the arrival of Liberty Media is fuelling expectations of a revolutionary transformation modeled after Formula 1’s rise in global popularity. This could propel MotoGP into mainstream sports entertainment with broader commercial appeal.
Agreements with Dorna Sports, the commercial rights holder of MotoGP, are already in place for 2026, but major changes are expected from 2027 onwards. One of the most significant changes involves customer teams, which will have the opportunity to renegotiate their contracts or choose different technical suppliers. This opens the door for new investors to enter the sport and acquire control of existing teams.
Recently, American businessman Andrew Fox attempted to acquire the Gresini Racing team but faced resistance from team owner Nadia Padovani, illustrating the competitive and strategic nature of these acquisitions.
Gunther Steiner Finalizing Tech3 Acquisition
The news of Gunther Steiner’s return to racing was revealed by Autosport in an article written by journalist Oriol Puigdemont. According to the report, Steiner is close to signing an agreement valued at approximately 20 million US dollars to take over the Tech3 MotoGP team. Alongside Steiner, Apex—the investment firm that manages assets for top-tier athletes—will be involved in the purchase.
Importantly, the acquisition will not bring any changes to the operational staff of the French team, nor will it involve relocating the headquarters. The team will maintain its current structure, and both riders—Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini—will continue with the squad. Both riders are under direct contract with KTM, which will remain Tech3’s technical supplier at least until the end of the 2026 season.
With this strategic move, Gunther Steiner signals a new chapter in his motorsport career, potentially becoming a key player in the MotoGP paddock at a time of sweeping transformation.
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