Racing Point team boss Otmar Szafnauer has explained the growing “friction” between midfield teams and Haas, which was seen numerous time in 2018.
Since joining the Formula 1 grid in 2016, the American squad has surprised many with how they have been able to be so competitive so quickly into their existence, particularly following the failure of the three teams that joined in 2010.
The reason most have pointed to is their close relationship with Ferrari, which sees Haas as much receive technical help as is allowed in the regulations but this year the striking similarities between their two cars couldn’t be overlooked.
“When you design, make and build your own cars but then there’s one team that isn’t doing it, getting a lot of technology from a top team, you’re going to get that friction,” Szafnauer told Autosport.
“I think that’s what it’s really about. It’s not about the competitiveness.”
The FIA was actually asked to conduct an investigation into the Haas/Ferrari partnership at the start of the year before ruling it was legal, however, an incident later in the year caused more suspicion.
“It’s just a bit curious that only two teams had a front-floor that wasn’t in compliance with the regulation after the FIA pointed it out, it was Haas and Ferrari,” the Racing Point chief pointed, with Romain Grosjean later being disqualified at Monza for that reason.
“It’s kind of like having two snowflakes that are the same and it’s tough for two totally independent designers to design an aerodynamic piece with exactly the same radius that isn’t compliant.”
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Renault was the team that brought the protest which led to Grosjean exclusion in Italy, however, in Abu Dhabi, Haas put the then-Force India team in their spotlight by protesting their re-entry as a constructor following the mid-season takeover by Lawrence Stroll.
“We would rather not have the protest because it always causes uncertainty,” Szafnauer explained. “Like the Germans say, when you’re on high seas or in front of a judge you’re in God’s hands.
“So even though we’re 100% certain we were fine as a constructor it’s never nice.
“The good news is they did the process, everyone put their cards on the table and the stewards said, ‘Yep, you’re a constructor’.
“The irony is we designed a lot more parts than they did,” he concluded.
