Romain Grosjean points vital for Haas morale - Guenther Steiner

Eifel Grand Prix

Grosjean points vital for Haas morale - Steiner

Haas registered in the top 10 for only the second time this year

Sam Hall

Thursday 15 October 2020 10:09

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes Romain Grosjean's end to his points-scoring drought was crucial to help raise team morale.

Ahead of the Eifel Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, Haas had scored just one point this season via Kevin Magnussen at the Hungarian GP in July.

Despite Grosjean's first points finish for over 14 months, the team is on course for its worst season in F1 since entering the sport in 2016.

Steiner, though, appreciates the importance of Grosjean's two points from Sunday.

“It keeps everybody motivated, they all did a good job over the weekend, and maybe not running on Friday was a help," said Steiner, referring to the fact the two practice sessions were fogged off.

Article continues under video

“I’m very conscious that some people [in the race] dropped out in front of us who would normally be in front of us anyway, but we were fighting with the people we can fight.

“I must admit the result feels great, which is very important not only for the position in the championship but also for the morale of the people.

"They work week in week out just trying to get a little bit of happiness out of the weekend and this time we got some happiness.”

The result also closed the gap in the constructors' championship by a point to eighth-placed Alfa Romeo, who had Antonio Giovinazzi finish 10th.

With just two points now separating Alfa Romeo from Haas, and given the financial implications of climbing even a single championship position, Steiner again underlined the nature of the result.

He added: "It’s not only important for the points because in the standings we move one point closer to Alfa Romeo but it’s mainly for the guys, for everybody. It is just a good feeling of how it feels to make some points."

Before you go...

Abiteboul relieved to choose size and location of beer-fuelled tattoo

Hamilton able to brush aside negative emotion from past abusers