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Steiner: Change needed for Haas' long-term involvement

Published on 14 Jan 2019 16:15
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By: Fergal Walsh

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes that change is needed in Formula 1 for Haas to continue in the long-term. The American squad ended the 2018 season in fifth place, losing out on the 'best of the rest' spot to Renault.

2019 will be Haas' fourth year in F1, and while it has made steady gains through the midfield in that time, Steiner says that there is no point staying in the sport if topping the midfield pack is the most it will be able to achieve.

Steiner says that fighting in the midfield is acceptable over the next two years, but hopes to see a change going forward that will allow smaller teams to push towards the front: "I think for two years, yes, it's sustainable," Steiner told Autosport.

"But long term: no, it gets old. If it doesn't change at some point there's no point to just be in it. The business as a business doesn't work if you cannot take and feel the enjoyment of competing for podiums and wins. There's no point to be here after a certain time, you know.

"Why would I waste my life working madly, day and night, flying to, I don't know, 21 countries all around the globe, to know I can just do the same as I did last year? There is no point. No point."

F1's field is currently divided in two, with Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull contending for victories, while the rest of the teams battle among themselves. Steiner is confident that adequate changes will be made in the coming years to benefit the current midfield teams.

"It [F1] always changes and things change so quickly in here, so I don't think that in three years Formula 1 would be the Formula 1 which is now," he said.

F1 News Guenther Steiner Gene Haas Bob Said Renault Ferrari Mercedes

Replies (5)

mcbhargav

Posts: 1,332
I'm very sure Haas would find a lot of motivation, once they drop to the 8th place, after Renault, McLaren, Sauber, and Racing point make a big jump using 2019 aero changes.
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- Jan 14 2019 - 17:03
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  I doubt Haas will drop that much, they have too deep ties with Ferrari for that, and they only really lost to Renault due to driver incidents. I also doubt McLaren will be able to mount a challenge on Haas or works Renault for next year.
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  Jan 14 2019 - 17:45
- mcbhargav
  
  Posts: 1,332
  I agree it would be hard for 3/4 above teams to make an outright jump on Haas. But, its almost sarcastic to think of moving into the top 4 club in F1, by re-using a top 2 team's parts.
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  Jan 14 2019 - 17:57
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  I Dont necessarily take that much umbrage with Haas using some components from another team, partly because its already been done before, Haas just happened to be the one to have taken it to the extreme, and even then they still have alot of own work ahead of them, with or without Dallara mixed into it. I could actually see Haas methods as a means to help smaller/midsize teams get into F1, provided there is some sort of benefit to the teams manufacturing it all by itself as an incentive for them to get independent later down the line.
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  Jan 14 2019 - 18:49
Ram Samartha

Posts: 1,172
I think he has a good point. HAAS is at the top in other formulae so why should they settle for being in a formula where the odds and specs are so heavily slanted towards the top 3 teams that there isn't really any opportunity to move up? They have shown a good way to get towards the top, but still can't get to the top, so why stay?
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- Jan 17 2019 - 00:09