Haas says taking the fight to Williams is the limit of its ambitions for the 2021 Formula 1 season in the wake of its performance in Bahrain.
Haas, which finished ninth in last year’s Constructors’ Championship, has opted against developing its largely unchanged car beyond the upcoming Imola round.
It has instead decided to focus its resources on 2022, when overhauled technical regulations will be introduced.
Haas brought up the rear of the field in Bahrain with rookies Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin qualifying as the slowest drivers.
In race trim Schumacher was the last of the classified runners in 16th spot, a minute behind Williams’ George Russell, while Mazepin crashed out after three corners.
When asked for Haas’ hopes across the rest of 2021 Haas boss Guenther Steiner said: “I would say if we can take the fight to Williams, that’s about it, what we can [do].
“I’m very realistic about it. We are not putting any effort in to do anything more than that.
“I think the biggest amount that we can get out of the car, to get our drivers prepared, or get them prepared better, just get them experienced, that’s what we want to do so they are ready for when we have a better car.
“That is just how our plan is for this year.”
Four teams failed to score a point in Bahrain, including Williams, though Haas officially holds last in the standings owing to results countback.
