F1 has "over-delivered" with new era - Steiner

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes F1 has "over-delivered" with its new era of regulations if the evidence from the first three grands prix is anything to go by.

The sweeping changes to the aerodynamics rules have not only shaken up the order but also allow cars to more easily follow one another, which was the primary goal when they were first conceived.

Offering his assessment as to whether F1 had delivered on its promise of providing more exciting racing, Steiner replied: “Absolutely. It seems to be working.

"The cars look interesting, they’re all different but they can all be competing. At the moment it seems that some cars are better for one race track, some are better for another. I think the new rules have over-delivered.

"And not as a negative, but it’s a very competitive championship this year and you need to be perfect to get points."

F1 sprints back into the fray

Steiner can appreciably be grateful for the changes as they have allowed Haas to shake off its back-of-the-grid tag and again mix it with the midfield.

The team scored more points in the first race in Bahrain, via Kevin Magnussen's fifth-place finish, than it did over the entire 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Although the last grand prix in Australia proved to be "very challenging" according to Steiner, Haas head into this weekend's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix sitting seventh in the constructors' championship.

The event includes the first of this season's sprint races, adding another complication to proceedings.

"For sure, it will be challenging because we’ve only got one free practice session to find a good set-up," explained Steiner.

"With the difficulties of these cars and the inexperience we have with them, it won’t be easy but it’s the same for everybody and whoever is better prepared will have a better car.

"So we will be trying our best like everybody else. It is a good thing for the championship to have these sprint races and I really look forward to it.”

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