Guenther Steiner: “The aim is to compete for podiums at the end of these regulations”


Guenther Steiner: “The aim is to compete for podiums at the end of these regulations”

Guenther Steiner

Haas had two incredibly weak seasons in 2020 and 2021 – scoring 3 points in the former while scoring none in the latter. Of course, 2021 was meant to be a throwaway season for them, and they were really focusing on 2022. And so they came into 2022 – all guns blazing and certainly impressed out of the gate.

ADVERTISEMENT

Kevin Magnussen’s 5th placed finish on his Haas and Formula 1 return raised more than a few eyebrows, but he also scored points in the next race in Saudi Arabia, and then in Imola. But then began a bad patch for the American team – they did not score any points until the British Grand Prix and also had a series of reliability problems and DNFs.

In the British Grand Prix, Haas scored double points finish, a feat they repeated in Austria – with Mick Schumacher finishing a very impressive 6th place, and Kevin Magnussen finishing just two behind on each occasion. while the next two races did not deliver as the car just really did not seem to have the pace, they are certainly in for more chances after the summer break.

Also Read: “Some people didn’t believe we would come back”: Guenther Steiner reveals Haas suffered 20% loss in their staff after 2021

ADVERTISEMENT

Guenther Steiner: ‘Some people didn’t believe we’d come back (from the bottom)’

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner
Guenther Steiner

Haas currently sit 7th in the Constructor Standings, with 34 points. This is a much, much better tally compared to the last two seasons, but it still has not been a particularly easy season. Haas had to sack Nikita Mazepin at the start of the year and ditch the Uralkali sponsorship following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and recently, there was also a bit of a controversy with the car design, with some referring to the VF-22 as a ‘White Ferrari’.

But it is a considerably more improved situation that in the last three years, where the team finished ninth, ninth and tenth. Despite that, Steiner believed in his team to come back and have a stronger 2022 – but everybody did not, and there was an unusual staff turnover over the winter.

in an interview with Racer, Steiner said: “Some people left; I would say 20% more than normal turnover left. There was more than one reason, but for sure some people didn’t believe we would come back.” and elaborated that most people that left didn’t ‘believe’ in the project, but of course, a lot of people did.

“I think that shows that people believed in it, but I wouldn’t say it was difficult because I am always of the opinion that if somebody doesn’t want to stay then there’s no point holding them back.”

ADVERTISEMENT

At the end of the regulations, Steiner is aiming to compete for podiums: “I think at the end of these regulations – 2024, 2025 – not to win races, but at least hopefully we can aim for podiums. That is the aim. But all of the other teams have got the same opportunity, they are also in the budget cap, we must never forget that.”

But he stressed that they still need to do a good job, this time more on the technical side, as there is not particularly a financing issue any more. It will be interesting to see at what place Haas end up this year.

Also Read: “I don’t want to speak about our Ferrari deal,” Guenther Steiner isn’t blatant about Mick Schumacher’s future with Haas

Also Read: Guenther Steiner pauses Mick Schumacher’s contract extension talks as Aston Martin closes door

ADVERTISEMENT

Do follow us on: Google News | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter