Former F1 team principal Guenther Steiner set to take over Tech3 KTM MotoGP team

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Sources close to the deal estimate the deal will be agreed at just over £20million, in the first major move since Liberty Media's takeover of the championship was confirmed.

Steiner is one of the most recognisable figures from the F1 paddock from his time with the Haas team, grabbing the attention as a main protagonist in the Netflix series Drive to Survive.

Since leaving the American team in 2024, the Italian has been spotted at several MotoGP events, as rumours of his potential involvement with the championship began.

Autosport also reported that although Steiner is set to be the main face of the takeover, the majority of funding for the deal comes from Apex, a company that manages investments for around 100 professional athletes, including Lando Norris.

Other high-profile F1 drivers have also reportedly invested in Apex anonymously, which has also been previously involved in acquiring a 20% stake in the Alpine F1 team.

There has also been a commitment to retaining the Tech3 staff, as well as current riders Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales, as well as keeping the headquarters in France.

The deal for the French outfit, which was created in 1990 by current team boss Herve Poncharal and Guy Coulon, is likely to relieve pressure from KTM as it continues to recover from the financial crisis that rocked the manufacturer in August last year.

Amidst uncertainty that KTM will continue in the championship beyond 2026, any deal for the Tech3 team is likely to see its future secured for the regulation changes expected in 2027 season.

Poncharal has long admitted to being in talks with various parties interested in acquiring Tech3, specifically mentioning Steiner on several occasions.

"There's a name circulating in the media: Guenther Steiner. Yes, we've spoken with him - he's very kind and direct, and I really like that," Poncharal said at the Aragon GP in June.

"He has a lot of experience in motorsport. He could come on board as an investor, a partner, a minority shareholder, helping with sponsorship."

Should the deal be agreed for the Tech3 team, it is likely that Poncharal will gradually hand over the reins to Steiner so that the former Haas boss can become familiar with running a MotoGP team.