Haas targeting points from every race

Whether you agree with the model Haas have taken in entering Formula One or not, you have to admire their results from their first two races.

Esteban Gutierrez is yet to finish a Grand Prix for the America side, but that is through not fault of his own.

In Australia he was the launch pad for Fernando Alonso’s hairy ride which resulted in the Spaniard suffering fractured ribs.

In Bahrain he suffered a mechanical failure.

But team-mate Romain Grosjean has impressed, taking the newly formed ‘Driver of the Day’ award for the opening two races of the season.

In Australia, in Haas’ first race he finished sixth, in Bahrain he finished one better with a fifth place finish.

‘If he keeps finishing fifth and sixth, that’s a heck of a team builder, There’s so much disappointment in racing that, when you have an event that makes you feel good, it really makes a big difference to team morale.’ team owner Gene Haas told motorsport.com.

‘I’m ecstatic, It’s kind of a record-making start, but hopefully we’ll do better.’

Haas Team principal Gunther Steiner believes a regular top ten finishes are now realistic for the team.

?We want to try to get points now at every race. That is the objective. If we reach it or not I don’t know.

With everything in Formula One, Haas has its critics.

They are a newbie team but they’ve taken a different strategy to newbie teams of the past like Hispania and Caterham.

They have used the Formula One regulations to their advantage, purchasing everything they legally can do.

Haas runs a full 2016 specification Ferrari power-unit and also runs a Ferrari gearbox.

Some in the paddock would argue that it doesn’t make them a true independent team, others would argue that it’s far more important to have competitive cars on the grid rather than failing financial teams who are uncompetitive.