Haas F1 team hit back at rivals’ criticism
LONDON: Haas have come out fighting after rivals stepped up their criticism of the Us-owned Formula One team’s close technical ties to Ferrari.
The newest team on the starting grid, who made their debut in 2016, have produced an impressively quick car whose resemblance to last year’s race-winning Ferrari has been highlighted.
“I just don’t know how it can be right that someone who’s been in the sport for a couple of years with no resource could produce a car (like this),” Force India’s chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer told motorsport.com.
“Does it happen by magic? If it does, I want the wand.”
Haas principal Guenther Steiner said his team had nothing to hide. “Everybody is allowed to an opinion. Some people have an opinion, which I think is based on no facts,” he said ahead of next weekend’s race in Bahrain.
“I think the whole of Haas F1 team can be proud of the work done between last year and over the winter to produce the VF-18 and get it into its competitive condition. It’s merit to them. If people have an issue, fine with me. We report what we are doing, like everybody else, to the FIA. That’s why I’m onfident we are not doing anything wrong.”
Haas’s chassis is built by Dallara in Italy. The team use Ferrari engines, gearboxes and front suspension as well as other parts they are allowed to buy in, and they have access to the Ferrari wind tunnel.
The sporting regulations bar teams from passing on or receiving information on listed parts, that could include data and drawings, directly to or from another competitor or via a third party.
Mclaren’s double world champion Fernando Alonso has dubbed the Haas a “Ferrari replica”. – Reuters