After the first match in court, the score is 1-0 for Guenther Steiner against Haas. The book written by the former team principal has been deemed legal by the California district court. Now the Italian must face the trial related to unpaid commissions from the American team.
Let’s recap the trial and the ruling
In 2023, Guenther Steiner published one of F1’s bestsellers, “Surviving to Drive.” The book recounts the entire 2022 Formula 1 season at Haas from the perspective of the Italian team principal. Its success was obviously boosted by the media phenomenon sparked by “Drive to Survive,” where Steiner was one of the most beloved characters by the audience.
In 2024, Gene Haas decided to change the helm of his team, firing Guenther Steiner and replacing him with Ayao Komatsu. The reasons for the shake-up are linked to various financial requests from the Italian that were not well-received by the American magnate.
However, the troubles don’t end there. After the dismissal, Guenther Steiner decided to sue the team for some unpaid commissions over the years. In response, Haas decided to file a lawsuit against Steiner due to his book. According to their legal team, the use of the company’s name should have been approved instead of violating copyright laws.
On September 26, the second lawsuit ended at the first hearing, acquitting Guenther Steiner. Judge Birotte stated: “The book describes Steiner’s experience as Team Principal of Haas. This necessarily requires mentioning the Haas name. Like many sports biographies, it includes photographs from the season, which undoubtedly show the Haas brands. The use of Haas trademarks is artistically relevant to the book. Using photos that include Haas brands is an artistic choice to provide further context about the 2022 season with the team.”
Judge Birotte Jr. added: “There is no explicit indication, obvious assertion, or clear false statement that the ‘source of the work’ is Haas Automation. While there is an argument that the photo on the cover may implicitly suggest approval or sponsorship, there is no explicitly misleading statement or suggestion through the Haas brands.” He concluded, putting an end to the matter.
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