Haas F1 boss hits back at accusations the team are 'copying' Ferrari

Haas boss Guenther Steiner says his team have done nothing wrong after it was reported that several rivals want the American team investigated for ‘copying’ Ferrari’s car.

German publication Auto Motor und Sport have reported that three Formula 1 teams have called on the sport’s governing body, the FIA, to look into the legality of the Haas VF-22, with the accusers claiming that it shares too many similarities with Ferrari’s F1-75 car.

It is not known which teams have voiced their concerns.

Ferrari already supplies Haas with engines and gearboxes and in the past the latter have openly admitted to buying parts from the former to help cut costs.

F1 rules prevent excessive copying and sharing of technical information between teams, and while they were not found to have broken any rules then, Haas and Ferrari’s outstanding pace at the start of the 2022 season has once again bought the issue to light.

‘Haas took a huge leap forward from last place. It’s an interesting step,’ said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.

‘It’s a learning curve for us because as an organization of 2,000 people that has been successful in the past, we’re now struggling with teams that are much smaller. They must have done a great job.’

Haas finished the 2021 season in last place, failing to score any points, but this year they already have 12, with Danish driver Kevin Magnussen an impressive ninth in the standings after the first three races.

Ferrari meanwhile are leading the championship and have by far and away the fastest car, with star driver Charles Leclerc already an unprecedented 34 points clear at the top of the standings.

‘I think it [the rules] needs reform, because none of the teams should be able to cooperate in a way that we’re seeing today,’