Gunther Steiner has minimized the significance of the recent improvements made by Haas in 2024.
As the former team principal, Steiner was crucial in establishing the team's distinct operational approach at the compact American team, which ultimately led to his dismissal by owner Gene Haas at last year's close.
The parties are currently embroiled in legal disputes, coinciding with Haas demonstrating substantial progress in 2025 under the leadership of Steiner's successor, Japanese engineer Ayao Komatsu.
A significant car upgrade was unveiled at Silverstone, although Daniel Ricciardo from the junior RB team noted that improvements in Haas had started earlier.
"Nico (Hulkenberg) has scored big in the last few weekends," Ricciardo disclosed to Ekstra Bladet newspaper. "All of a sudden, our lead for sixth place has disappeared."
"On the other hand, it's motivating to look at Haas," the RB competitor mentioned, "because they have clearly found something. There is more laptime hiding in there, so we have to find it too."
Hulkenberg, set to join Audi-owned Sauber next year, confirmed: "Every time we have put something on the car, it has worked roughly as expected. We made some changes in our aerodynamic department last year and at the end of last year and I think we're seeing the results now. The department seems to function better and more efficiently," the German driver stated.
"We have kept up with the others and maybe even done a little better," Hulkenberg added. "It's definitely a bit of a comeback story."
However, the ousted team leader Steiner isn't entirely convinced.
"The car is quite good this year," he acknowledges. "But it was built by the people who worked there last year. I'm not pointing at me. I was only a part of it. I give a lot of credit to Simone Resta for that one," Steiner expressed.
"We sat down last June and said we have to do something. That was the focus and it worked."
Resta, previously the technical director at Haas, briefly returned to Ferrari and is now on 'gardening leave' before his 2025 transition to Mercedes.
"When I left the team, the car was designed and just needed to be screwed together," Steiner maintained. "It happened under my regime, if that's the right word. Because it wasn't me who made the car."
"Simone also left because we probably both thought we were at a dead end. It was frustrating," the 59-year-old, who is still active in the paddock as a broadcaster and pundit, added.
"Several times I said that you sometimes have to take one step back to take two steps forwards," Steiner explained. "The team wanted something different. They wanted more of the same, which they have every right to do. But I don't have to be a part of it."
"Whether they can continue the progress, I don't know. And I kind of don't care either."
