Haas F1’s Guenther Steiner Rejects Waiting for 2026 Rules, Vows Immediate Team Progress

Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner has publicly dismissed the strategy of waiting for the 2026 rule changes, emphasizing the need for immediate performance improvements. Steiner’s remarks come in the wake of a challenging 2023 season, underscoring the team’s dedication to its staff and supporters.

Key Takeaways:

• Prioritising Current Performance: Guenther Steiner, Haas F1’s principal, has categorically rejected the idea of sacrificing upcoming seasons for the 2026 regulations. This stance follows the team’s difficult journey in 2023, culminating in a 10th place finish in the Constructors’ Championship.
• Emphasising Immediate Advancements: Steiner stresses the need for prompt performance upgrades, stating, “I think what we need is to work hard and find the performance on the car so that we can get better… we know we can do it because we have done it before.”
• Adhering to a Proven Strategy: Despite past struggles, Steiner defends Haas’ collaborative model with Dallara and Ferrari. He believes in their existing approach, saying, “So at the moment we need to be patient and conscious and work with this business concept we are using now, with this model, and just try to get back to where we were a few years ago.”

After a promising start to the 2023 season, Haas Formula 1 team encountered significant developmental challenges, culminating in the introduction of a modified car. Despite this, issues such as tyre degradation continued to hamper their performance, leading to a disappointing finish in the Constructors’ Championship.

Team principal Guenther Steiner, in a bid to revive the team’s fortunes, has taken a firm stance against waiting for the 2026 rule changes. Instead, he advocates for immediate performance enhancements to propel the team forward. Steiner’s approach is rooted in a commitment to the team’s dedicated staff and loyal fan base, who expect better results.

Steiner’s philosophy is not about drastic overhaul but focuses on strategic, incremental improvements. Drawing from their past successes, he emphasizes the importance of building on existing strengths. This approach is pivotal, especially considering the team’s strategic decisions during the pandemic, which showcased their ability to adapt effectively under challenging circumstances.

However, Steiner acknowledges that the evolving landscape of Formula 1 makes replicating past strategies more complex. He points out the risks involved in attempting significant changes, especially in the short term. Instead, he proposes a patient and conscious effort to improve based on their current business model and past achievements.

In his conversation with RACER, Steiner elaborates on the team’s challenges and strategies:

“Nobody wants to be 10th here. You feel the pressure, obviously, because you want to do better. If I didn’t feel the pressure then I would be happy with that, and I’m for sure not happy with where we are.

“I think what we need is to work hard and find the performance on the car so that we can get better… we know we can do it because we have done it before.

“We did this analysis of what we need to do. I think at the moment where we are is actually a help to move forward again, because you can rely on what we have got and what we have done before. If we now try to do everything ourselves, normally when you would do such a big step you have to make a step backward to do two forward, so the risk would be even bigger to be worse off than we are now for the short term.

“Obviously the mid and long term is a different story, but at the moment we need to get out of the hole in the short term in my opinion to show what we can do, and then we can think, ‘Could we allow ourselves to make a step backwards?’ But if you make a step backwards now, where do we end up?

“So at the moment we need to be patient and conscious and work with this business concept we are using now, with this model, and just try to get back to where we were a few years ago.”

Steiner’s message is clear: Haas F1 is not content with its current position and is actively working towards regaining its competitive edge. The team’s strategy, focusing on immediate improvements while maintaining its proven business model, sets a determined course for the upcoming seasons.