Guenther Steiner unsure how much Haas' struggles are down to the Ferrari power unit

Haas

Steiner unsure how much Haas' struggles are down to the Ferrari power unit

All three Ferrari powered teams are struggling in 2020

Sam Hall

Saturday 22 August 2020 16:39

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner admits it is difficult to calculate how much pace the down on power Ferrari is costing his team.

Haas, Ferrari and Alfa Romeo have all struggled in 2020 comparative to their 2019 performance levels, and it is no coincidence that this has come after an FIA investigation into the Ferrari power units.

Often questioned about the situation surrounding the Ferrari power units, Steiner refuses to publicly blame Ferrari from providing a somewhat disappointing product.

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Following the Spanish Grand Prix, the Italian admitted: “It’s difficult to say how much it is [holding us back].

"For sure, you know the opinion about the PU at the moment, so Mercedes has got a very strong PU, so for sure that aligns with our one from Ferrari, and as you say, it goes parallel.

“I think it will always go parallel because the main factor of the cooperation is in the PU, because aero we obviously cannot work together. We cannot copy it – or we did not copy it.

“For sure, you always go with the trend of the senior team as you called it. You’re aligned to it.”

Asked if Williams continued struggles despite running the Mercedes power unit was evidence the power unit being solely to blame for his teams difficulties, Steiner added: “I don’t really know how Williams does that and I think we all know by now how Racing Point does it, but we always had this strength.

“Look at Alfa Romeo. Their business model is as well a little bit different than ours and it goes very parallel as well.

“I would say a big factor of this is the PU, but then I don’t know how Williams is doing it, how good their car is. I have no idea, and I have no idea if they get the same engine. I do not know. I cannot speak for Williams.”

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