Steiner expects 'natural way' to solve thorny F1 issue

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner is fully expecting a natural resolution to an issue that has become a thorny problem for Red Bull and its recently renamed sister team.

Since the end of last season, McLaren CEO Zak Brown has made numerous references to the growing reliability of the team now known as Visa Cash App RB on Red Bull.

This season, RB will be using as many parts from the reigning F1 champions as the regulations permit, with Brown believing this goes against the grain of the definition of a constructor, particularly in the current cost cap era.

Only recently, Brown said: "We’ve seen it on track, some collaborations going on. Technically, they’ve been very forthright in ‘We’re going to take the suspension, etcetera’."

“The definition of a constructor is someone who develops their own intellectual property. I think the sport has moved onto an equal playing field.

“To have A-B relationships and co-ownerships of two teams on a level playing field, it's not what the fans expect. The FIA need to do something about it.

Haas would not have survived without Ferrari

Steiner appreciates Brown's thinking, even though since entering F1 in 2016, Haas' relationship with Ferrari has been questioned along similar lines to that of RB and Red Bull.

In an interview with RacingNews365, Steiner stated that but for the partnership with the Scuderia, Haas would not currently be in existence. The 58-year-old, however, appreciates changes may have to be made in the future.

"Without that relationship, Haas would not have been able to go where we did," said Steiner. "We wouldn't have survived the first season, in my opinion. It was very important.

"Obviously, with where Formula 1 is going now, there needs to be a direction where you do something.

"I understand Zak's position very well, what he's asking for. He is raising this for the long-term future of the sport.

"But the relationship between two teams owned by the same owner is different than the relationship between Haas and Ferrari.

"Then again, for the future, if the sport is in good standing, maybe there needs to be changes to the business models in general.

"Formula One is a little bit different to anything else, and we cannot forget what Red Bull brought to the sport when it was in difficulty, so there needs to be respect for that as well.

"But if the sport continues to develop like it is now, there will be a natural way to solve that problem."