Haas boss Guenther Steiner says the squad has to understand why it is underperforming, labelling the French Grand Prix as its worst in Formula 1.
Haas began the year fighting towards the front of the midfield pecking order, often leading the way in qualifying, but in recent races has slipped back.
Romain Grosjean was parked late on, having also failed to make it out of Q1, while Kevin Magnussen classified just 17th, ahead of only the Williams drivers.
It means Haas has now slipped to ninth position in the Constructors’ Championship, four places down on its 2018 ranking.
“In the four-year history, I think this was our worst weekend,” said Steiner.
“In the race, we still struggled. I don’t know… what is bizarre to me, a car that was good enough to qualify seventh and eighth in the first race and then all of a sudden be second-last.
“Don’t ask me what it is, I don’t know. Don’t ask me please because I wouldn’t know.
“We need to find out, it’s very disappointing, ending up in this situation but also not having an understanding of it, that’s the worst of it all.”
Steiner says Haas should be motivated by the challenge of having regressed so far through the order.
“It’s not depressing, I’m realistic,” he said. “I’m not getting depressed. I’m getting… angry is the wrong word.
“For me, it’s a challenge but it’s not a positive challenge — but we need to get out of this, if you get depressed you give up.
“We never give up, you never give up, in racing the day you give up is the day you are nowhere.
“You need to get the anger out, and just keep on working. That is what I told the guys, 'You need to work a lot more now than you did before because now we are in the shit'.”
