Seems like those alarm bells already should have been ringing. I think it’s a bit of an indictment of their team’s engineering that significant investments haven’t been made. Stop pretending this year is salvageable, and begin prepping for the 2026 regulations with the new power units.
They sacrificed 2021 for the new regs in 2022 as well, see where that got them.
Sadly the owners don’t seem interested in funding the team in a way that will allow them to ever seriously compete in F1. People seem to like to shut on Steiner for this, but I think he is just managing with the tools he has.
I was optimistic when Haas joined. Their model of sourcing as much as possible from Ferrari looked like a good idea to start a team and built from there. But they never seemed to have the funding/ambition to evolve to a serious top team.
Really sad to see the only American team is not taking it serious, and it’s not making it easier for newer teams (ie Andretti) to get the nod of approval.
I would just hate to see that kill any chances for more US-based F1 growth.
I mean, sacrificing 21 led them leap Williams and AT in 22, and they have a genuinely decent car at the start of the 22 season. But as you say, Gene Haas unfortunately seems to be satisfied with the cars being little more than rolling billboards…
Should consider switch to the RBPT PU. Ford is going to be the name plate sponsor in 2026(?), American team + ‘American’ PU.
Haas is operating from a facility at the Ferrari campus. In no way they are changing pu while being there
Gotta feel bad for the Haas drivers
It’s such a shame. I was hoping they were able to make a jump like Williams did.
