Sport is a ruthless business.

One minute you’re cock of the walk, the next you’re out on your ear – and that can change in just one moment.

Guenther Steiner departed his role as Haas team principal ahead of the 2024 seasonAFP

For former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner, that life changing moment happened while he was buying ham.

A 22-year career in Formula 1 curtailed at the meat counter.

The Italian shot to fame away from the track as one of the stars of Netflix’s Drive to Survive.

He helped novice fans understand the intricate ways of F1 behind the scenes.

And he did so with a cracking sense of humour and a litany of swear words.

However, all good things come to an end and Haas decided not to extend his contract in 2024.

You might imagine those discussions are taking place in fully-catered boardrooms.

However, it turns out it’s not so glamourous.

He told talkSPORT: “It’s worthwhile to tell that story because normally, if someone doesn’t want to extend your contract, normally they call you to the office and say, ‘Let’s meet up.’

He added: “In the end, I went and bought my ham and left the supermarket and ate it in the evening.”

Steiner says he is enjoying life outside of Formula 1Buffalo Trace

Steiner, though, isn’t so bothered about his exit.

And he insists it was a call he, perhaps, should have made long before.

“I’m actually not bitter,” he added. “You see things coming and now thinking about it, I should have done it earlier.

“I should have left the team because it wasn’t going the way I wanted it to go.

“When you know who you deal with, then your expectations are like this, so nothing bitter.

“I mean, it’s life, I move on, I’ve got good things to do in life, I don’t have to be bitter about [it], water under the bridge.”

And now Steiner is embarking on a new career within the same sport, being used as a specialist commentator on German TV, while also conducting post-race interviews.