The acquisition of the Tech3 MotoGP team by former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner and a group of investors will be made official this Friday.
As Motorsport.com revealed last month, both parties had agreed on terms for the deal before the summer break. At that time, only the signature was pending, which has now been completed.
On the agenda for this weekend’s Catalan Grand Prix, MotoGP’s promoter Dorna has scheduled an extraordinary press conference at noon on Friday.
Motorsport.com understands that Steiner will himself be present for the announcement as he takes over Tech3 with backing from a consortium of investors, many of whom are from the United States.
The transaction, valued at just under €20 million, has been facilitated by Apex, a fund managing the capital of a broad group of high-profile athletes. Among this group is McLaren F1 driver Lando Norris, though several other prominent names – including some currently on the F1 grid – have chosen to remain anonymous. One of Apex’s most notable moves to date was its acquisition of a 20% stake in the Alpine F1 team.
All parties involved in the Tech3 deal have welcomed the change of ownership, from KTM, which will continue supplying bikes to the team until at least the end of 2026, to Dorna and Liberty Media, which is now the majority shareholder in the Spanish company.
Enea Bastianini, Red Bull KTM Tech 3
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
The current contracts between teams and Dorna expire in 2027, at which point satellite teams will be free to renegotiate their agreements or switch manufacturers. It is widely believed that Steiner has secured guarantees from the promoter to retain Tech3’s two grid slots beyond next year.
Under the terms of the agreement, the new ownership will keep Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini in its rider line-up, along with all current staff, while maintaining the team’s headquarters in France.
A few weeks ago, Tech3 co-founder and former owner Herve Poncharal denied having reached any deal. However, Friday’s announcement highlights a sentiment widely shared across the paddock that executive interests ultimately prevail in motorsport.
Motorsport.com understands that Poncharal will gradually hand over responsibilities to Steiner, giving the Italian engineer time to adapt to a reality very different from F1.
Both Dorna and Liberty Media have welcomed the transition, hoping that Steiner’s charisma and influence will help drive MotoGP’s global expansion.
Steiner enjoys a considerable fan following thanks to his colourful personality, and he has already been spotted in the Barcelona paddock on Thursday.
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