Gene Haas cannot identify why his team is continually suffering poor results in Formula 1. The American owner is hopeful that a change in leadership can be the antidote to the problem.
The tides have turned at Haas. When they joined F1 in 2016, they were almost unanimously supported by fans – which isn’t unusual for underdog teams.
Their impressive results in 2016, 2017 and 2018 also earned them respect in the paddock. They proved capable of competing for points and established themselves relatively quickly.
Considering the short life spans of HRT, Caterham and Manor, Haas’s early results were particularly impressive.
However, we are no longer in 2018.
AUTODROMO HERMANOS RODRIGUEZ, MEXICO – OCTOBER 26: Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal and General Manager, Scuderia Ferrari and Guenther Steiner, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team during the Mexico City GP at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Thursday October 26, 2023 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Andy Hone / LAT Images)
Teams are investing more than in previous seasons. The budget cap has incentivised the grid to invest and capitalise on this unique opportunity for financial parity.
But this approach cannot be attributed to Haas. Heading into 2024, Guenther Steiner wanted the team to expend more resources on bettering development facilities and infrastructure.
Gene Haas points away from resources
It seems this was the root cause of Steiner’s departure, with Gene Haas making clear that an increase in cash flow is off the table:
“I’m not sitting here saying it’s Guenther’s fault or anything like that,” he explained.
“But it just seems like this was an appropriate time to make a change and try a different direction – because it doesn’t seem like continuing with what we had is really going to work…
“I like Guenther. He’s a really nice person, a really good personality.
“We had a tough end to the year. I don’t understand that. I really don’t. Those are good questions to ask Guenther, [about] what went wrong.
“At the end of the day, it’s about performance. I have no interest in being 10th anymore.”
Ultimately, results on track might vindicate this shift at Haas. The timing sheets are always definitive in Formula 1.
With that said, it is difficult to imagine how changing team principals will have any meaningful impact.
If Haas continues to spend minimally on development (whilst having the fewest personnel of any team), better results seem unlikely.
Perhaps they can fluctuate slightly in the lower midfield, but the American team’s ceiling seems quite clearly fixed for the foreseeable future.
Author: Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
