Haas chief Guenther Steiner believes Formula 1 would only be half of what it is today without Ferrari, ahead of the team's 1000th race.
The Scuderia is the only outfit to have competed in every F1 world championship since 1950 and will celebrate reaching the significant milestone at their own circuit at Mugello this weekend.
To commemorate, Ferrari will run a burgundy red livery to match their first racing car the 125 S, while 2,880 fans are to be allowed into the track, the first spectators to attend a race this year.
As Sebastian Vettel once said: "Everyone is a Ferrari fan. Even if they say they're not, they are Ferrari fans", and ahead of this weekend, Steiner paid tribute to the impact of the Italian marque.
“Formula 1 without Ferrari would only be half of Formula 1," he said. "That’s what we have to be honest about.
"They’ve been there since almost the beginning and they’re just such a big part of what Formula One is now."
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Steiner also highlighted the importance of Ferrari to Haas' existence in F1, having been close technical partners since 2016.
"Honestly, without Ferrari, we wouldn’t be here either. In the beginning, when we tried to find a different way to do it, they were listening to us and entertaining us," he said.
"We then found a solution where we could enter F1. Entering F1 without a partner, starting from nothing, it’s almost impossible – I’m not saying impossible, there’s always someone that can do the impossible.
"Put simply though, without them, we wouldn’t be here. Our relationship with Ferrari was always very good, and it’s continued to improve with time.”
Of course on the track currently, all three Ferrari-powered teams are struggling as a result of the loss of engine performance suffered this year.
But after the two largely flat-out circuits of Spa and Monza, the Haas chief is confident of a stronger weekend.
“Mugello’s more like a traditional circuit, as I would call it," he added.
"Not like Spa and Monza which are high-speed circuits. Hopefully, we can perform a little bit better there with it not being so power sensitive.
"I think it’s good that we’re going there. We also have to remember that this is the first time a Formula 1 race has been held there.
"Being a new track, as is normal, I’m sure some surprises will come up. I’m hoping we’ll have some good surprises.”
