F1: Mick Schumacher denies Haas 'copied' Ferrari

(GMM) Gunther Steiner is defiant in the face of a group of rival teams who are pushing the FIA to take action against Haas’ ‘white Ferrari’ car for 2022.

The small American team’s boss this week said FIA inspectors were welcome to visit the team at any time to probe accusations of the way it is working with technology partner Ferrari this year.

“Haas has made a big leap from last place,” Mercedes boss Toto Wolff told Kurier newspaper. “An interesting step.”

Mick Schumacher in the 2022 Haas car. The Haas car primarily benefits from the superior Ferrari engine this year. Photo courtesy of Haas F1 Team

Alfa Romeo chief Frederic Vasseur insists he has “confidence in the FIA” to look into the matter, while McLaren’s Andreas Seidl goes a step further to suggest that “intellectual property” may have changed hands.

The German even wants a ban on teams using the same wind tunnel.

“As soon as you allow that, there will also be a transfer of intellectual property to the other car,” said Seidl.

“It makes B-teams overly competitive compared to teams like us, while also benefiting the A-teams, which is even more concerning for us.”

However, Haas is defiant.

The team’s German driver Mick Schumacher, who is also the official reserve at Ferrari this year, told Bild newspaper: “If we had copied Ferrari, the FIA would intervene.”

Haas team boss Steiner, meanwhile, aimed fire at McLaren’s outspoken Seidl.

“Fortunately, Andreas is not running the FIA,” he said.

“Some people think they can change everything just by opening their mouths, but thankfully it doesn’t work like that.”