Steiner doubts Haas can overhaul Williams after F1’s Hungarian GP

Williams scored 10 points at the Hungarian Grand Prix as it benefitted from the opening lap carnage caused by Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll.

Haas’ Mick Schumacher moved up the order in Hungary but dropped down the field as the race progressed, while Nikita Mazepin retired early on due to an incident in the pit lane.

With the American outfit yet to get off the mark in 2021, Steiner doubts it will be able to overhaul Williams in the constructors’ championship.

“The chances are very, very low,” Steiner said. “I’m very realistic about these things. Williams didn’t expect to make the points they make. They did a good job and ended up in a good place at the right time. That’s how racing happens.

“That’s why I always say you always have to try to do your best. So they were there when there was some points given away and that’s what they did. But I’m not betting that we get more points than them.” 

Steiner was still unhappy about the incident between Mazepin and Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen, but was sure it didn’t cost his team a points finish.

“It was very disappointing because it was no need for it,” Steiner added. “Sometimes these things happen, they shouldn’t happen. For me, making points would have been difficult even without the crash. But for me, the biggest thing is Nikita missed another race where he can learn a lot of things. That is my bigger concern than the points in the moment.

“So it happened, you cannot make it right and hopefully we learn something out of that.”