Haas team boss Guenther Steiner has outlined that the squad is “making good progress” with its 2022 project, as it bids to climb up Formula 1’s pecking order.
Haas emerged as a midfield front-runner through 2018, classifying fifth, but since then has slumped down the standings.
It has spent much of the 2021 campaign rooted to the rear of the pack – running two rookies and an almost undeveloped car – though jumped Williams for ninth overall with its result in Azerbaijan.
Steiner visited Haas’ secondary facility in Italy after the most recent event and was buoyed by the progress.
“The day-to-day running in our Maranello office is managed by Simone Resta,” he said.
“Obviously, we’re always in contact, we’re always speaking about things, not least as I know the past here and I want to give him as much of that knowledge, so he knows how best to go forward.
“In the short five months we’ve been up and running there he’s been doing a good job.
“I’m obviously very happy to be looking forward to 2022. I see that we’re making good progress. Hopefully the car will be competitive, and we’ll have lots of fun again in 2022.”
Haas pair Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin are on multi-year deals and Steiner reckons the upcoming triple-header – the first of the season – will assist the duo’s progress.
“I think every challenge for them is good,” he said. “They get exposed to the things that just happen in Formula 1.
“It’s a triple-header, you cannot change it, you have to deal with it.
“Sometimes it’s good because there’s no time between the races for distractions. They’re both young, they’ve got lots of energy, and racing’s what they want to do. For me, this is not a bad thing for them.
“They just need to keep focused and we see just how much they can do that. I think it’s good for them in the first part of their career, not just the season, to be exposed to this pressure. I’m sure they’ll cope very well with it.”
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