Haas has defended their new title sponsor Rich Energy for suggesting the team can beat Red Bull “at many races” in 2019.
The British energy drinks brand has entered Formula 1 looking to be a director competitor to their Austrian rivals but, given the current gap between top teams and the midfield, challenging Red Bull on the track would appear to be an unrealistic prospect.
However, while Haas team boss Guenther Steiner admits it would be a tough ask, he doesn’t see why such a target shouldn’t be set.
“We had the fourth best car in the field at times last year, Red Bull is third, so why shouldn’t we think of making life difficult for them?” he told Speed Week.
“Whether we do it, I don’t know but I know that if you do not try, you will not succeed.”
Driver Kevin Magnussen echoed the Italian’s view adding: “If you do not want to take on your opponents, you will achieve nothing, so I don’t see anything wrong with such a target.”
The Dane did admit though: “I don’t think so in 2019, but who can say what the future holds?
“We have new regulations coming and the budget cap, and no one knows how that will work. You have to believe in success to make it true.”
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Rich Energy was initially linked to two teams prior to signing with Haas, having tried to buy the old Force India outfit which has now become Racing Point F1.
Then CEO Williams Storey was seen in talks with Williams over replacing Martini as the title sponsor before eventually, their path led to the American squad.
“By every metric, they were vastly superior,” the CEO said explaining the decision.
“They had the best business model in the sport, they were uniquely positioned to exploit regulation changes and I think they are run in a very, very unpretentious fashion.
“I think they are proper racers, Gene Haas is a wonderful businessman who is approaching motor racing in the right way, Guenther Steiner is a brilliant team principal and they have got two drivers with personality.
“But we just felt that when we analysed it in the cold light of day that Haas was head and shoulders above the rest in terms of a partnership for us.”