Szafnauer fed up of Haas-Ferrari relationship

It is well documented that Haas and Ferrari have a very close relationship when it comes to parts on their cars. Haas employ a lot fewer people than most of the midfield teams due to this relationship, which sees the team run the risk of overstepping the mark when it comes to producing their own parts.

Some other teams, who manufacture a lot more of their parts have found this relationship to be unfair, and none more so than Force India, who were taken into administration before finally being rescued, and renamed Racing Point.

Team boss Otmar Szafnauer is unhappy about the closeness of the two team’s relationship, believing that it is unreasonable that a midfield team should be allowed to rely so heavily on a front running team.

He told Autosport: “When you design, make and build your own cars, and there’s one team that isn’t doing it, and is getting a lot of technology from a top team, you’re going to get that friction.

“I think that’s what it’s really about. It’s not about the competitiveness. That’s the root cause of the friction.

“It’s just a bit curious that only two teams had a front-floor that wasn’t in compliance with the regulation after the FIA pointed it out, it was Haas and Ferrari [speaking about Grosjean being disqualified at the Italian Grand Prix].

“It’s kind of like having two snowflakes that are the same.

“It’s tough for two totally independent designers to design an aerodynamic piece with exactly the same radius that isn’t compliant.”