Steiner insists Haas is ‘here to stay’ in F1

Guenther Steiner believes Haas is “here to stay” in Formula 1 despite recent doubts over the US squad’s long-term future and financial concerns caused by the coronavirus crisis.

Team owner Gene Haas had planned to use the opening part of the 2020 season to assess whether he would keep the outfit running in F1 into next year and beyond, following a frustrating and disappointing 2019 campaign.

But the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the season schedule and forced the opening nine races to be either postponed or cancelled. That has left F1 and its 10 teams in a vulnerable position, with a lack of racing and subsequent revenue hit placing an added financial strain on all involved.

Speaking as a guest on Sky F1’s Vodcast, Steiner said: “I think we are here to stay.

“For sure we have to see out this scenario but if we can get in what the plan is now [18 races], we are good for the year.

"I'm in touch with Gene almost every day, he wants to be involved with what is happening, and he seems to be in a good place.

"We just need to be diligent. The budget cap, all this brings the teams together and being competitive will help. So I think we are here to stay.

“If we find solutions for the mid and long-term [then Gene Haas] is happy,” he added.

"We need to come up with solutions which I think we are. If we do he wants to keep on going racing.”

While Steiner is convinced Haas wants to see his F1 project through, he admitted the ongoing situation and future rule changes will have a large sway in the American businessman’s ultimate decision.

“Like all of us, he doesn’t know what is coming in the near future, and whether or not we are having races [this year],” Steiner explained to the official Formula 1 website.

“He’s happy to wait longer, but like any businessman, you’re not happy to wait forever.

“Let’s hope over the next few months, we get a better view of the near future, hopefully the situation doesn’t stay as fluid as it is now.

“There is no one to be blame, it’s just the circumstances. At the moment, he can stay calm but at some stage he needs to make a decision.

“But at the moment he wants to see it through. We have furloughed people, and we didn’t let them go.

“It’s one of those things, we just need to make sure we make the right decisions in the future, which keeps him interested into the sport.”