Haas doesn’t see potential Andretti F1 takeover of Sauber as threat

Andretti Autosport is understood to be in discussions with Sauber’s owners about buying a majority stake in its controlling company and subsequently taking charge of its Alfa Romeo F1 team. 

Haas has been the only American-backed team in F1 since it entered the sport in 2016, but team principal Guenther Steiner insists his outfit is not concerned by the potential of being joined by a second American squad on the grid. 

“I don’t see anybody as a threat, as an American team,” said Steiner. “We have no issue with that one, wherever the team is from.” 

However, Steiner did admit that Haas could have done a better job of seeking sponsorship from American-based companies. 

“What we didn’t do, we didn’t exploit the American market, the sponsorship market, as much as we should have because otherwise we would have more American on the car,” he added. 

“There hasn’t come anybody knocking on our door with big sponsorship saying ‘because we are American this is what we are going to do’ or ‘this is why we are going to support an American driver’.

“There is no magic in this game and whatever happens there will not be a lot of change. There is a lot of talk at the moment, but we need to walk now.”

Steiner revealed that Andretti team owner Michael Andretti had held talks with his team in the past but stressed discussions were never “concrete”. 

“I spoke with Michael a few times, not lately, honestly,” Steiner replied when asked if Andretti had shown an interest in his team. 

“I don’t know what Michael is trying to do. Everybody knows each other in American racing and maybe there were talks, but maybe not as concrete as you think they are.”