Haas' Steiner at odds with 'customer cars' idea in F1

Haas team boss Guenther Steiner is emphatically against the idea of introducing customer cars in F1, insisting the larger teams could "manipulate" their customers' performance.

Red Bull's Christian Horner has tabled the concept of the large teams supplying their year-old designs to mid-field squads in a bid to alleviate the latter's costs in face of the current crisis.

Haas' current business model relies on a technical partnership with engine supplier Ferrari from which the American outfit acquires a maximum number of non-listed parts, i.e. components that it is not legally required to design itself.

• Horner sees 'full customer cars' as quick fix for smaller teams

Horner argues that the availability of customer cars in 2021 would go a long way towards helping the smaller teams that are struggling with costs during the sport's economic downturn.

But Steiner is opposed to the idea, insisting it would do nothing to help level the playing field in F1.

"We would then be customer teams and the larger teams could actually manipulate our performance," the has boss told Ziggo Sport.

"It would be as if we had a car from last year. They will always stay ahead of us.

"With a budget cap, we still don’t reach the budgets of the larger teams, but we are closer."

Formula 1 and the teams are still in the process of defining the exact level of next year's budget cap.

However, all parties have unanimously agreed to cut the spending limit from $170m to $150m, but mid-field teams led by McLaren are lobbying for a cut back all the way to $100m.

Sources indicate that $145m will be the most likely compromise for next year with a further decrease implemented in 2022.

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