F1: Haas debut was good for the sport - Steiner

Haas team principal Gunther Steiner believes his team's success in trying "something different" in working with Ferrari to join the grid is good for Formula 1.

Haas became the first fully-fledged start-up team since Toyota in 2002 to score points on its debut, with Romain Grosjean claiming sixth place in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne's Albert Park. Steiner feels the team had to try a different route into F1 compared to recent new teams, which is why it chose to join forces with Ferrari, receiving engines and other ancillary parts allowed under the rules at the time of its entry.

"Without the help from Ferrari this could not have happened," said Steiner. "That's why we said we were not going to do it like the other new teams because it would be more of the same. We would be five years without points, and like anybody you would run out of enthusiasm.

"We said we needed to try something different – and we tried this and it seems to be working, although I'm cautious to say 'it's working' because we still have to repeat it.

"It's a good thing for Formula 1. A new team can come in and score points, that's pretty cool.

"But this is only one race. Clearly the pace of the car is there, and we are in the midfield, so that is already a positive. There will be some races where we are behind and some where we are even in front – but we are in that pack."

Steiner believes Grosjean's decision to join Haas has also been vindicated given the questions that were raised over the fact he was leaving Lotus ahead of it being taken over by Renault.

"He is fast, he is experienced, he can manage the tires, and he is known for that," said Steiner. "He did all that we took him on for. That is why we took him, and he delivered to a perfect level."

Originally on Autosport.com