The American businessman and Haas team owner Gene Haas had planned to use the first part of the F1 campaign 2020 to decide on the future of his outfit in Formula 1. The coronavirus threw a wrench into work – but team boss Günther Steiner is optimistic that things are looking encouraging …
Formula 1 fans are hungry for races with the coronavirus pandemic, which is almost bringing the world to a standstill. Although no race could take place, talks about the future of the sport continued, resulting in the confirmation of a budget cap of $ 145 million for the next season.
This will help improve the playing field – something Gene Haas has been pushing for since joining his own team in 2016 – and make the sport more attractive to those who own teams from a business perspective.
READ MORE: Günther Steiner on difficult decisions, Haas’ future and the effects of the coronavirus
Talks on the new trade agreements between the teams and F1, which expire later this year, continue. However, since Gene Haas is happy with the final draft, Steiner believes that the document, combined with the new rules, will mean “Haas will stay here”.
Steiner (center right) with Gene Haas and the drivers Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean
“I think the budget cap is a good thing for sport in general, even if it is not the same for everyone,” he told the media on Thursday via videoconference.
“We know we will still be below budget, but it’s a very good move. Now the difference from the big teams is not $ 150 million, but maybe $ 20 million, which is a very good move.
“There is also the possibility of breaking even in the future. You have to do a good job for you to break even. Some people can certainly make money from it. If the big teams can keep the sponsorship they have and the prize fund distribution will be much more even in the new trade agreement, then there is an opportunity to do so.
READ MORE: F1 2021 Cost Cap Explained – What Has Changed and Why?
“That has to be my goal to balance it out for Mr. Haas. If I do that, he’ll definitely sign the Concorde agreement. We haven’t seen that yet [final] Concorde Agreement or Trade Agreement. We roughly know what it looks like.
Steiner is confident that the Haas F1 name will be on the market for a long time to come
“It should come in the next few weeks or months, I don’t know exactly when, but obviously FOM had to wait to enforce all new budget caps so it took steps back, but it will come.
“Once we have it Mr. Haas can decide what he wants to do but for now his intention is to stay in the sport but before it is signed I cannot say that will happen. The team is, to remind everyone, 100% owned by him so that he can make the decisions and we will continue from there, but I am very positive about where we are now.
“At the moment we are getting through this difficult time pretty well with the coronavirus. We do the right things, we live within our means and I think Haas is here to stay. “
READ MORE: Steiner hopes the spirit of team collaboration will continue after a “big step forward” at the budget cap
The post “I think Haas is here to stay” – Günther Steiner is confident that Gene Haas will keep his team in F1 first appeared on monter-une-startup.
