Guenther Steiner thinks Haas would have fallen off the Formula 1 grid after only the 2016 season without a ‘very important’ relationship with Ferrari keeping them alive.
Team owner Gene Haas realised his ambitions of putting an American team back on the grid in 2016. Not since Penske Racing raced in the pinnacle of motorsport from 1974 to 1978 had the USA had a Formula 1 team. Haas were even the first to have a base in the US since 1976.
But Haas’ F1 operation is split between their factory in Kannapolis, North Carolina alongside a base in Banbury, England and an HQ inside Ferrari’s famed Maranello site. The Kannapolis factory further houses Gene Haas’ championship-winning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series squad.
Haas’ F1 design office is inside Ferrari’s Gestione Sportiva building in Maranello
Ferrari allocated a section of Maranello to Haas as Gene Haas and Steiner set about joining the Formula 1 field. They refused to be frivolous in their spending to put an American team back on the grid. So, Haas established a special relationship with the Scuderia to save costs.
Steiner acted as the team principal of the Haas F1 outfit from 2014 through until the end of 2023. Gene Haas hired the Italian-American engineer to oversee his squad’s entrance to the travelling circus of Formula 1 having previously worked in F1 for Jaguar and Red Bull, as well.
Haas broke into F1 by buying as many ‘Transferable Components’ as are allowed within the FIA’s rules. They use the Prancing Horse’s engine, suspension, gearbox, rear crash structure and various internal parts. But Haas produce their survival cell and every aerodynamic area.
Haas do not build their cars Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg drive themselves, either. Instead, they outsource the production of the VF-24 – and every chassis since the debut VF-16 – to Dallara. The Italian manufacturer also produces every F2, F3 and Indycar Series car.
Steiner admits Haas ‘wouldn’t have survived’ the 2016 season without Ferrari
The FIA’s rules have and continue to allow Haas to operate in a unique way as long as Ferrari do not pass over any intellectual property or data, and visa-versa. And Steiner has now told RacingNews365 that Haas would not have survived the 2016 season without Ferrari’s help.
Steiner said: “Without that relationship, Haas would not have been able to go where we did. We wouldn’t have survived the first season, in my opinion. It was very important.”
Haas’ unique way of producing a Formula 1 car saw Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez secure P8 in the 2016 constructors’ championship. The American team would even claim P5 in 2018 with Magnussen beside Grosjean. But 2018 remains their only finish higher than P8.
Magnussen also goes into the 2024 campaign with Hulkenberg on the back of Haas finishing 2023 in 10th and last. Gene Haas also opted against renewing Steiner’s contract and named Ayao Komatsu – who admits their 2024 is ‘not fantastic’ – as his outfit’s new team principal.
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