Haas Chief Makes ‘Lucky’ Podium Admission

Haas chief Guenther Steiner has admitted his team will require “luck” to secure a podium finish ahead of the top three teams in 2019.

The 53-year-old has been team principal of the American outfit since they entered Formula 1 in 2016 and is desperate to end their wait for a top-three finish in this upcoming campaign.

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Haas’ best finish to date was fourth at the Austrian Grand Prix last year, as the team went on to finish just behind Renault in the fight to claim fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship behind the big-three of Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull.

Steiner accepts that those three will always be challenging for the podium places throughout the season, but he is hoping Haas can pounce on any slip-ups or retirements to snatch a place.

He said: “That is a dream. If we could make it that would be nice. I would say last year in Baku, without the accident, we could have got close to it.

“So hopefully it is our season as last year luck was not a lot on our side. Maybe it turns and we get lucky. “But if everything goes normal nobody can reach the podium except for the top three teams.

“Sometimes there are things happening in a race where you can make it, and if you are there and thereabout after the three big teams, you can pick it up.”