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Haas F1 puts team expansion plans on hold

Published on 14 Dec 2017 09:58
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By: Rob Veenstra

The American team Haas says it has put on hold any plans to expand. Team boss Gunther Steiner said that despite the reputation that the second year is harder for a F1 team, he is impressed with how Haas went in 2017.

"I would not have expected that we are so stable in all areas," he told Auto Motor und Sport. "Only after the first year are you aware of the level required to put it all together, but we met all of our expectations," Steiner added.

Haas finished eighth overall this year, only ahead of McLaren and Sauber but not far behind Toro Rosso and Renault. But Steiner said that because of Haas' small size, it makes little sense to make lofty plans to expand the team while Liberty Media contemplates a budget cap for 2021. "Before we continue to grow, we need to know at what level the budget cap would be. It makes no sense to enlarge the team now and then reduce staff again in 2021," he insisted.

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527

Its sorta a good point, but at the same time this kind of hesitation could be far more expensive for Haas in the long run.

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Dec 14 2017 - 11:53

F1 News Haas

Replies (8)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
Its sorta a good point, but at the same time this kind of hesitation could be far more expensive for Haas in the long run.
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- Dec 14 2017 - 11:53
- mbmwe36
  
  Posts: 533
  I think it's one of those things where it makes sense when you don't think about it.
  
  To me, this seems like an excuse to lower expectations.
  
  I'm pretty sure that whatever HAAS could invest, they will not be anywhere near the top teams in terms of spending.
  They could, however, end up having to chase a technology gap, because they don't keep up with the rest of the class now.
  
  But like I said, I think it's more spin than anything.
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  Dec 14 2017 - 17:09
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Could be, but then again thats the right kind of attitude to have IMO. I dont think they will stand still, but the problem is that F1 is a fast running sport, be one step behind today, and you'll be five steps behind tomorrow. Of course you can limit your spendings, but if you want to be competitive and you want to continue to fight the likes of Renault you need to up your game. I dont expect them to be a front runner, but they've had a good start, and need to be on it so they dont lose that momentum.
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  Dec 14 2017 - 17:41
Barron

Posts: 625
I’m trying to get this message across for some time: Haas is NOT a full F1 Constructor. His business model is to use standardised parts as much as possible with Ferrari engineering and Dallara chassis. He cannot develop at the same pace as even Torro Rosso who is a full Constructor in the fullest meaning of the term. Haas has had the rug underneath him pulled away by Marchionne with the Alfa/Sauber deal and that Sauber now have a Ferrari junior driver that was refused by Haas. The Haas F1 team now is going to play 2nd fiddle to Sauber which means? The very back of the grid with 2nd rate motors and last year’s chassis. Unless Haas actually decides to get onboard as a full constructor, OR a budget cap is announced within his financial capability, it will be sayonara Haas in F1. He thought he could enter and compete in F1 on the cheap and his results show it. He hasn't even attempted to find a Title sponsor preferring to promote his own brand on the car instead. That’s fine, but it does not engage with the public outside the USA. At the very least he should have created a European operating base... I hope I’m wrong, but Steiner here seems to support this theory..,
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- Dec 14 2017 - 19:34
- RenaultFM1
  
  Posts: 100
  When they told that they stopped develop on the car before the summer break I kind of lost interest for Haas and that even I'm from Denmark. You have to spend the money that it takes to get those 0.10 tenths of a sec for be able get into the points. I Spend a lot of money go to sepang this year and then to listening that they getting further behind. Is this a way to treat their fans i just ask? For Haas to spend 5 mill usd more on development would maybe meant they could been end up at 7th place. they have so few staff so hire 50 more is still means they the smallest team. Get a CO sponsor onboard but not from the US.
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  Dec 15 2017 - 03:09
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  No, its not a full constructor, but that we knew from the start. As for parts from Ferrari: they get the recent stuff at the start of each season (notice the keen similarity between the Haas' nose and the Ferrari's), but has to design the rest around those parts. A nice concept, but I dont really think it'll help them in the long run. And I agree with you RENAULTFM1, I like HAAS, but them choosing to not upgrade their car more past the midseason mark did really not leave a good impression. I wonder if they really are talking seriously with Maserati. If thats the case, sugardaddy Ferrari will expect them to work harder from now on.
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  Dec 15 2017 - 10:37
NSBiker

Posts: 18
It all makes sense .... But .... have we ever heard anyone say that a Budget Cap can and will work.?? I doubt it.
If Liberty comes up with something, be it good or bad, the real trick will be finding ways to either work around it or be more efficient than enough other teams so you don't finish last.
The big teams will always work outside the cap .... somehow.
When JT makes it Euro-Nascar, the main technical innovations will be how thick to make the sponsor's decals on the car.
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- Dec 15 2017 - 00:45
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Do I think a budget cap would work? F1 is a spender's sport. Its not something for small fry. I think most of us are willing to agree on that. However, and here is the shrimp, I dont think its a bad idea to have an upper limit on how much you can spend. Not something that would affect the midfield teams, but something that prevents the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari from spending ridiculous sums of cash so they and they alone can dominate. A cap that wouldnt alleviate the spending of the smaller teams, but would help cost efficient teams like Force India's bid to challenge the upper teams.
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  Dec 15 2017 - 11:08