Haas: If they can’t beat you on track, they try to beat you in court

Haas boss Guenther Steiner says his team has ‘worked hard to be envied’ as it continues to fight Romain Grosjean’s disqualification from the Italian Grand Prix for a technical infringement.

After securing sixth place as the top finisher in the Formula 1 midfield battle at Monza, Grosjean was excluded from the results after his car floor was deemed illegal by the race stewards following an appeal launched by Renault.

In the team’s Singapore Grand Prix preview, Haas has confirmed it is appealing the decision to disqualify Grosjean which saw the team drop back down to fifth in the F1 world constructors’ standings and 10 points behind Renault.

Steiner says the appeal from Renault on the technical infringement is a reaction to the US team’s improved performances in 2018.

“I wouldn’t expect it, but sometimes people react this way,” Steiner said about the Renault appeal putting Haas under scrutiny. “If they cannot beat you on the track, they try to beat you in court.

“That is what seems to be happening. You have to work hard to be envied. We’d rather work hard for it and fight even more.”

Steiner has also questioned his F1 rivals’ approach seeing it as a tactic to beat Haas off the track but accepts the move in order to gain any advantage in the tight midfield team battle.

“Sometimes, you have to do that,” he said. “You take any approach in racing. Is it the right thing to do? I’ll let others determine that.”

The US team boss feels regardless of the appeal outcome on the Grosjean’s disqualification it won’t impact Haas for the remainder of the season but will act as motivation in the tussle for fourth place in the F1 standings.

“I would say this happens, but you don’t actively think about it or put any effort into thinking about it,” he said. “It’s in the back of your mind and it motivates you more. It’s more like, ‘I don’t really care what you do. We’re still going to do a good job.’

“Everybody on the team is going for a good spot, fighting for fourth. They are motivated. It’s not like I have to tell them or they have to be told. Everybody has that spirit already in them.”