Steiner warns Ferrari time is running out to make 2021 improvements

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has told Ferrari the clock is ticking to improve its power unit as he predicts another "challenging" weekend at Monza.

Ferrari has the lowest performing power unit in 2020 and this was highlighted to an extreme degree at the Belgian Grand Prix with six of the slowest eight qualifiers powered by the Scuderia. Of the five Ferrari runners to finish the race, all finished in the bottom six.

In a straight line, the Ferrari powered cars were sitting ducks, and Steiner has said he is constantly talking to Ferrari and asking for updates on the progress for 2021.

“The clock is running because this year for sure we cannot do anything about the engine and I don’t know exactly where they are for next year," said the Haas boss.

“I know that they are working on it because, as you can imagine, I ask that question every day, every hour. I don’t have a definitive answer and it is also difficult to be the spokesperson for something you are not in control of.

“I can just relay messages. They are working hard on it because they know it needs to be better and I think the only way to find out [if it is better] is when we go out on the track next year.”

He added: "There is no new power coming [this year]. The car will stay the same as well so it will be déjà vu [at Monza]. I don’t know Mugello too much, but I think it is a little bit less power sensitive still.

“It won’t be fantastic, but I think for sure Monza will be a big challenge. We know that, we go into it knowingly and we just try to do our best the whole weekend to get the best out of whatever we have got, that is what we try to do in these positions.”

During the Spa Francorchamps race, Haas drivers Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean found themselves battling with the two Ferrari factory drivers, something Steiner says offered a fleeting moment of satisfaction.

He commented: “Obviously you get a little satisfaction out of it because at least you are racing something, but it is where we are. To be honest, nobody is coming here to try and fight to beat somebody for 13th or 12th position, that’s not why you come here.

“It is like when you are out there on Sunday afternoon, at least you race something, you feel excited about it and then when you think about it, you are really doing something that is not very satisfying, beating someone who is struggling as well at the moment."

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