Upon taking on from Steiner in January, new chief Ayao Komatsu cautioned that Haas would begin the season close to the final row on the grid after the event of its new automobile received held up in the course of the course of 2023.
However Haas carried out nicely above these expectations to this point, scoring factors within the final two grands prix in Saudi Arabia and Australia and shifting as much as seventh forward of point-less Williams, Alpine and Sauber.
Along with strong one-lap place that sees it compete with sixth-place RB, Haas has additionally cured most of its crippling tyre put on points that plagued it all through final season.
Steiner says that primarily based on the wind tunnel numbers Haas’ first rate begin to 2024 should not come as a giant shock and felt it wasn’t proper to minimize its expectations to such a level.
“They did a superb job and I all the time instructed Gene Haas that I really had it proper on the place they ended as much as be, as a result of I knew the numbers from the wind tunnel,” stated Steiner, who has since turned to TV work and has been announced as an envoy for Could’s Miami Grand Prix.
“I feel to start with they performed it right down to have an excuse to start out off with after which it was higher than they anticipated. That’s for me fallacious to do. And I feel everyone was satisfied it was this path, I used to be satisfied that is what it was.
“However for my part it isn’t about this 12 months, it is in regards to the mid-term. You possibly can go from 12 months to 12 months and yearly you’ll be able to say: ‘Oh, we’re unhealthy’ and then you definately do higher than you’re.”
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-24
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Whereas in a roundabout way claiming credit score for the 2024 automobile himself, he praised former technical director Simone Resta, who has since been signed by Mercedes in a extra strategic position, for the staff’s turnaround.
“I am not saying I, I say the staff and Simone Resta did a superb job as a result of the automobile was finished final 12 months, it was finished earlier than I left,” he stated. The automobile was completed, it was in meeting already.”
However Steiner says he has “no unhealthy emotions” about leaving and was happy to see the individuals he labored with for years be rewarded with a superb begin to the brand new season.
“I am very pleased for the staff that they rating factors, as a result of I like these guys, lots of people are there for the reason that starting, so I’ve no unhealthy emotions about that.
“I am really fairly pleased after they rating factors, as a result of I do know the technical staff in Italy did a superb job final 12 months. They labored very, very onerous to provide the automobile that’s operating now.
“Solely time will inform what’s occurring sooner or later.”