Haas: Renault complaints due to own shortcomings

Haas F1 boss Guenther Steiner believes Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul wouldn't be complaining about the American outfit's 'B-team' model if they weren't struggling so much with their own model.

Abiteboul has been one of the most vocal people with his opinion about Haas' relationship with Ferrari - which basically means they are a 'B-team' - very similar to the relationship Toro Rosso have with Red Bull Racing.

Speaking to the press last month, the Frenchman said: "There was a before and after Haas that has created a precedent. I'm not challenging, but I'm just saying how do we move forward for teams like us, like McLaren, like Williams?

"But also, how does a manufacturer that's currently not in Formula 1 that wants to join Formula 1, how is it they will seriously contemplate reaching Formula 1 if it's not possible to win without a B-team?"

But Steiner believes Abiteboul is only complaining about Haas' relationship with Ferrari due to Renault's own shortcomings. 

"I think they should do a better job and they wouldn't get the heat. It is in their own hands," Steiner replied when asked by Motorsport.com, if there was friction in the relationship between his team and the French-works team.

"In my opinion, the problem they created themselves by not performing enough and spending too much money. I think they need to up their own game and not try to lower our performance by hindering us. They are not getting closer to the big ones, that is the problem."