The American-owned team is facing a difficult rest of the season as they have chosen not to develop their car, which means it has fallen to the back of the field.
Both Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin have had tough times in the first two races as they have adapted to the F1 machinery and Steiner is well aware that he must handle the situation carefully.
While Steiner has a reputation for being brutally honest with his feelings about drivers, as was often seen on the Netflix series Drive to Survive, he says he needs to be more careful with what he says.
Speaking to the In the Fast Lane podcast, produced by the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, Steiner said that telling your drivers the wrong thing could have a negative impact.
“I have to think a lot more and analyze a lot more where we can get the fastest profits,” he said.
“Sometimes it is difficult because the wrong words may do the wrong things. So the biggest challenge for me is to give them the confidence that they are convinced of what they are doing.
“Remember, you’re a 21-22 year old guy getting into Formula One and all the pressure is on you. It’s not easy, just in your head, to deal with it.
“It doesn’t matter to drive one of those cars that are very tricky – so it’s like trying to fill in where I see weaknesses where they struggle the most.”
Steiner said that even seasoned riders like Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen sometimes need encouragement to do their best.
Mick Schumacher, Haas VF-21, with a damaged front wing
Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
“I mean, Kevin, when he came to us in the first year, I would say, even if he had been in Formula 1 for two years, he was pretty insecure and didn’t believe in himself,” revealed Steiner.
“So there was a bit of help to him, but it worked very quickly when he saw that the team was behind him and that we were supporting him.
“And that’s what I try to do with Mick and Nikita, just to tell them: ‘We are there for you, we are your first helpers, you have to trust us, we will do our best to help you.” You’.
“All you have to do is keep your head down, focus, work hard and just be focused.”
Steiner says Schumacher is “very humble” in his approach to the job while his teammate Nikita Mazepin got off to a more difficult start after a couple of incidents in Bahrain and Imola.
“I would say his confidence took off a bit when he walked in,” added Steiner.
“You know, Bahrain was under very difficult circumstances, with the track and with the wind, and it had a couple of spins and I think that made him a little bit insecure. Then, as I said, Mick did a great job.
“But I think he can handle it now, you know. In Imola he took a big step forward. So I think he will come.
“But it sure was a bit more of a shock for him, but he’s getting together right now, you know, I can see he’s making progress. I’ve been talking to him all weekend, you know?, Just trying to get him to accompany you to give your best. “
Additional reporting from Oleg Karpov
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