After a disastrous 2020 season, Haas decided not to develop its car for 2021 and instead immediately focus on the completely new regulations for 2022.
That meant that with two new rookie drivers in Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin, 2021 was a write-off from the start as the Haas team continued to provide time tracking support for most of the races.
While it gave Schumacher and Mazepin the air to breathe to develop without great pressure, the grueling 22-race season made it extremely tough for the crew and put an enormous amount of work into almost no reward.
The Haas team is one of several teams that are already leaving staff due to the demanding schedule.
Despite the most difficult year for the team to date – Haas was the only team that didn’t score – team boss Steiner said he was impressed with how his crew never gave up and continued to try to get the most out of the car.
“I’m pretty impressed with how the guys continued,” said Steiner.
“Look at the results, in the end there was never a surrender, you know, we knew where we were going, but we keep fighting. Even if you’re a tenth behind you try to make half a tenth and that’s thanks to the guys.
Haas F1 team members on the grid
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
“And they really kept fighting because I’d say about 60% of the people that are here are on the team from the start, so they know we can do it. And everyone wants to come back to go.” ” and get points again, fight in midfield.
“I wouldn’t say it was easy, but I have a group of people around me who know what we’re doing, you know, always stay involved and everyone does their job to get their own people for which he works they go. That’s what you have to do. “
Steiner said there was no icing on how difficult 2021 would be within Haas and believes the team has the right mindset to keep going through 2022.
“[There] There’s no point going there every race weekend and telling them how awesome everything is going to be because after a while they don’t believe you, they are smart people, you know, they just have to see what you are doing in the background. ,” he explained.
“And we never gave up, no one on the team ever gave up. That is the most important thing and that keeps the team going. I don’t have to keep it going. It keeps it going with this attitude.”
