Haas far from an 'embarrassment' in second season - Steiner

Haas boss Guenther Steiner says the US outfit's results offered solid proof a new team can hold its own despite past history and dire outside predictions.

Many viewed the probability of Haas sustaining its presence in F1 as low when the US outfit entered the sport in 2016 given the demise of recent efforts, such as Caterham, HRT or Manor.

But Gene Haas' different approach to F1, built on a technical partnership with Ferrari, changed the paradigm and allowed Haas to emerge intact from its first formative years of Grand prix racing.

"Before we came into the first season they said that we would never make it and so on," Steiner told Motorsport.com.

"And they said the second season is more difficult.

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"I'd never reply in arrogance to say 'yes, we know that' but I've done it all before in my life and in my career, so I try to prevent it [going wrong in year two].

"At the time I didn't know if I could avoid it or not, but for sure we tried not to and we didn't. I think we did a pretty good job. A second season plus a complete new regulation car, it isn't bad.

"I wouldn't say that we are an embarrassment, you know?"

Haas finished eighth in the Constructors standings this year, a result identical to its maiden season in 2016, although with more points.

One could argue however that the team held its own despite facing a more competitive mid-field following Renault's substantial improvement from 2016.

"The competition this season was very strong in the midfield," said Steiner.

"We lost a few points here and there and they make the difference. All in all, we have grown as a team and got better but still there is lots of work to do for next year."

With just ten points separating P8 from P6 in the Constructors' championship, Steiner admits the team would have welcomed the extra money associated with a better final position among its peers.

"It's always nice to get more," said the Austrian.

"Who would say that three or four million don't make a difference?

"Everything makes a difference, even £100,000, so you would rather have it than not have it.

"But I think that more than the money, it's about how close we were and that we missed it.

"From eighth place to eighth place it's more of the same. That's racing, that's sport - some you win and some you lose. For sure, we will miss the millions."

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