Haas accepts “risk” if he gives up developing the F1 car in 2021

The American-owned team asked early on how to use the limited resources for aero testing and focused fully on the 2022 car at the earliest opportunity.

The decision means that after the first test in Bahrain, no development is planned for this year’s VF21.

Team boss Gunther Steiner admitted that there is a risk of closing the development tap and possibly finishing last place in the 2021 World Cup, but it was one that had to accept.

“Yes, there is this risk, but we have to live with this risk,” Steiner told Motorsport.com. “We need to see that the bigger picture is medium to long term, not short term.

“If we only see for a short time, then in ’22 it will be: ‘Why didn’t we make the ’22 car? Because we can’t catch up now.’

“It’s very difficult to meet the aero constraints and budget cap. So you put as much into the front end as you can.”

Steiner says his team is prepared for a difficult year: “It’s going to be a pretty challenging season, we know that.

“We are prepared for it. We will do as much as possible for this year in the medium term and make short-term compromises in the medium to long term in order to generate profits. That is our plan at the moment.”

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When asked about the goals for this season, Steiner emphasized that the main goal is to provide training for the newcomers Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin.

“Damage control to give the best,” he said. “It would be a success for me to prepare two drivers for the future by the end of the year.

“This is going to be a success that we are learning, so we have no more problems in ’22 where we say these are rookie drivers and they have yet to learn.

“You study for a year and I think this is a good opportunity because the pressure will not be as high as with a good car, so I think our ambitions are realistic.

“We only want to do the best we can. Hopefully we can get a few points every now and then. But it will be difficult – and we are prepared for it.”