Guenther Steiner admits Ferrari are holding back Haas from copying Red Bull’s concept

Haas Formula 1 team boss, Guenther Steiner, acknowledges the challenges they face due to their reliance on Ferrari for crucial parts. He explains that while they strive to explore different concepts, they cannot simply jump to what Red Bull is doing. This dependency on Ferrari limits their ability to pursue significant conceptual changes and hampers their vehicle design flexibility. Haas purchases rear suspension and gearboxes from Ferrari, necessitating a certain alignment with Ferrari’s design approach.

He emphasizes the need to carefully consider potential changes, stating, “You always try, and we are trying different concepts, but you cannot jump completely to what Red Bull is doing.” Haas endeavors to explore different concepts, but their reliance on Ferrari’s components imposes constraints on their ability to pursue major conceptual changes and limits their flexibility in designing the vehicle. Steiner highlights the specific challenges they face to accommodate Ferrari’s parts, “Because you’ve got your chassis, your cooling installation, your radiator installation, so you cannot jump. You try to do more going that way.”

Haas has adopted some elements from Ferrari’s design, such as the broader side pod design. Still, Guenther Steiner clarifies that a swift shift to Red Bull’s concept is not as straightforward for Haas due to their reliance on Ferrari’s components. And they are also affected if Ferrari does a bad job. He states, “Maybe for next year, we go there. But at the moment, there is no panic reaction to go there. Because I think our car in the midfield is still pretty strong.”

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Guenther Steiner admits a radical change in the design to a dominant vehicle is not possible

Shifting to a new design concept is not simple for Haas, and Steiner points out, “It’s not as easy as saying, ‘Oh, we should change to the Red Bull concept now.” He emphasizes the suspension’s challenges, stating, “The suspension you cannot change because then you change the chassis.” Making changes to the suspension will be prohibited, and they are forced to use what they get from Ferrari.

Looking towards the future, Haas is evaluating their strategic approach for the upcoming year. They know it is a complex process involving more than just altering the bodywork and radiators. Steiner explains, “Or we could change, but it’s too much work. Having the suspension of the Ferrari, some things you cannot do.” The collaboration with Ferrari influences various aspects of the car, and certain limitations are in place due to the suspension arrangement. While the desire to explore alternative paths exists, Haas must carefully assess the practicality and potential benefits of any proposed changes.

While Haas has made the anticipated gains from using Ferrari’s equipment, they still have to navigate a few constraints. Despite these constraints, Haas has shown promising progress in the current season, sitting seventh in the standings. Steiner believes their car in the midfield is still pretty strong, and they can make profits out of this. With a focused and methodical approach to upgrades, Haas aims to improve their performance further and climb higher in the grid.

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