Haas Formula 1 boss Gunther Steiner says the team is capable of fighting for points more regularly next year with a “better car” after its performance at the Turkish Grand Prix.
The American-owned outfit took the decision at the beginning of the year to not develop its 2021 car in favour of focusing on next year’s design for the all-new regulations.
This has left it propping up the back of the grid at most of the races this season, with Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin often battling themselves rather than their rivals in uncompetitive machinery.
But despite Haas’ struggles, Schumacher secured the team’s second Q2 appearance of the year in Turkey in mixed conditions.
Steiner felt each crew member played a key part in the performance despite its tricky year so far, giving him hope that, with a more competitive package, the team is ready to challenge for points finishes in 2022.
“Yeah, that was my personal greatest satisfaction, to see how the team executed,” Steiner said, as quoted by Motorsport.com.
“We are ready for next year, you know. We are fine. Yeah, we will make mistakes as well, but there was a chance there, and it was working as [if] they have worked together since three or five years.
“Mick was very calm, his race engineer did a great job, always staying calm. Especially having Ayao [Komatsu] working as standing in for Nikita [Mazepin’s] race engineer, so there was no Chief Race Engineer there.
“And they all did a good job, everybody did what they needed to do, the mechanics.
“That’s what made me happy, because now we are ready. If we’ll get a better car, the race team is ready to get some points.”
Schumacher’s grid slot in Istanbul gave Haas an opportunity to better its 13th place in Baku, but the German’s early collision with Fernando Alonso saw its hopes evaporate.
But following its gradual decline over the past three years, Steiner insisted its progression to Q2 was a reward for the team’s hard work this season.
“I’m very happy for the team to be honest, because they all work hard all the time to get everything out,” Steiner explained.
“I see what they are doing and there is no result in the end, and, you know, I almost feel bad about that, but I’m very happy for them because I know the effort they put into it.
“Maybe three years ago we were unhappy not going into Q3, now we are happy to get out of Q1. It’s a different thing, but the guys, just a little bit of success carries them forward.
“Everything was done good, and it shows that you just have to keep on going, working hard, and things will come to us.”
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