In many ways, finishing fifth - almost fourth - in 2018, was a poisoned chalice for Haas. For going forward, having almost been 'best of the rest', the challenge was to either retain that position or go backwards.

Sadly, it proved to be the latter.

While pre-season testing suggested that the American team might maintain its position, ignoring the disaster that was Melbourne (again), the team soon discovered that it had a fundamental issue which meant that the tyres only worked in the most miniscule of windows courtesy of the VF-19's aero.

Though the team sought to get on top of the situation, and following the introduction of a new package at Barcelona appeared to have done so, it soon became apparent that the issue remained unresolved.

Indeed, as the drivers tried split strategies and packages, Romain Grosjean even resorting to the aero he'd used in Melbourne, the American outfit, despite a strong start to the year, began to slide down the rankings, with team boss, Guenther Steiner admitting that the team had gone the wrong way and should have listened to its drivers.

Then there was the unmitigated disaster that was Rich Energy.

Little wonder that at a time the futures of Mercedes and Renault remain undecided, in the eyes of many, Haas is the most likely team not to continue beyond this season, a move given added weight by the decision to retain Grosjean.

Steiner admits that that the decision whether to continue is out of his hands and that it is team owner, Gene Haas who will decide if it is worth remaining in F1 or not.

"It's difficult to know what to say to convince him," says Steiner, according to Autosport. "He needs to convince himself. That's how I see it.

"He understands that best," he continued. "I don't think I can do a lot to convince him, he needs to convince himself that this is what he wants to do, that this is what he wants to use his marketing money to invest in.

"He's got a good enough understanding that if I tell him we can win in 2021, he might say 'he doesn't know what he's doing'. I would have to agree with him. It's not going to happen.

"But, as I said, there is still so many open issues here that at the moment I don't know if he should make a decision yet."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by vins0n, 13/01/2020 12:43

"It would be a massive shame to lose Haas. "

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2. Posted by ChickenFarmerF1, 10/01/2020 23:09

"F1 is, at the end of the day, all about making money. Whether you're talking about Red Bull, Mercedes, Honda, Renault or Gene Haas. As expensive as F1 racing is (and the old joke about making a small fortune from racing by starting from a big one is as true as ever), none of those companies are into it for anything but making more money than if they didn't race. If Gene Haas decides he can make more money by spending his marketing budget elsewhere he's gone. He's a racer too, but not to the point of impoverishing himself. He's still a hard-nosed businessman first.

I hope he stays, and I hope his cars start to win races."

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3. Posted by Mark123, 10/01/2020 16:47

"I really hope Haas remains in Formula One. Last thing F1 needs is to lose a team. "

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4. Posted by Wokingchap, 10/01/2020 16:05

"Chin up and good luck to you."

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Decision to remain is down to Gene Haas admits Steiner

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