Seasoned motorsport manager Guenther Steiner has been named as the CEO of a consortium set to fully acquire the renowned Red Bull KTM Tech3 MotoGP team. The takeover, backed by IKON Capital, marks a new chapter for one of MotoGP’s most enduring outfits and is scheduled to take full effect in 2026.
Steiner, best known for his candid leadership of the Haas F1 team and his no-nonsense personality on Netflix’s “Drive to Survive,” steps into the two-wheeled racing world with characteristic directness. “This is a fantastic opportunity. Tech3 is a great team with a huge amount of potential and an impressive legacy,” Steiner said, underlining his respect for the team’s heritage.
The announcement was made at the 2025 Catalan Grand Prix in Barcelona, where the team revealed that Richard Coleman, a veteran in touring car racing and sports management, will take over as team principal. Founder and long-time leader Hervé Poncharal will remain in his current role through the conclusion of the 2025 season before moving into an advisory and talent-development capacity.
Poncharal expressed both a sense of closure and optimism. “This is the end of an era, but also the beginning of an exciting one for all of us,” he stated, reflecting on his legacy of guiding Tech3 to two premier-class victories and 38 podiums.
Steiner brings to this venture four decades of motorsport experience, beginning with rally engineering and including senior roles at Jaguar Racing, Red Bull Racing, and the founding leadership of the Haas F1 team. His entrance into MotoGP was driven by a long-held admiration for the sport and a post-2023 desire to embrace new challenges.
“This is my first time with two wheels and not four wheels,” Steiner remarked. “I have a lot to learn—I’m very conscious of that… When I left Formula One at the end of 2023, I was looking around what to do next. I always loved MotoGP but never had time to enjoy it because I was working.”
Steiner also cited a visit to the Austin MotoGP event as pivotal, igniting conversations with Poncharal and sparking what would evolve into the takeover. He praised the welcoming nature of the paddock and contrasted the “sporting pressure” of MotoGP—he says is more straightforward—with the “politics” of Formula 1.
The acquisition secures Tech3’s position in MotoGP at a time of changing dynamics. KTM, the team’s technical partner, faces financial restructuring, heightening the importance of ownership stability. Reports suggest Steiner also negotiated assurances from MotoGP promoter Dorna that Tech3 would retain its grid place beyond 2026, alleviating potential uncertainties.
Despite the change in ownership, many elements of the team will remain intact. The Tech3 name, KTM machinery agreement, and HQ in Bormes-les-Mimosas, France, all remain unchanged. Riders Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini—who joined the team for the 2025 season—are expected to stay under the new ownership as well.
Industry insiders and MotoGP executives have welcomed Steiner’s arrival. Carlos Ezpeleta, MotoGP’s Chief Sporting Officer, described the move as “a win-win,” praising both Steiner’s entrance and Poncharal’s legacy.
From his early rally days to F1 fame and now MotoGP, Steiner’s path has been as unconventional as it is intriguing. Many fans familiar with his forthright public persona are anticipating a bold and refreshingly candid leadership style in the MotoGP paddock.