Gene Haas, the owner of the Haas Formula 1 team, appears content with simply "participating" in the sport, according to former team principal Gunther Steiner.

Steiner, who was dismissed by Haas via telephone before the 2024 season, has openly criticised the American team owner's approach. Despite apparent progress under new team boss Ayao Komatsu—including signing Toyota as a technical partner—Steiner remains unimpressed.

"I don't know how much Mr Haas wants to invest, as the team is still the smallest in the paddock, both in terms of employees and factory," Steiner told Ouest-France.

"To survive in this world that is growing every year is difficult, but my feeling is that Mr Haas is content to be in the second half of the standings and just to participate. That's what frustrated me.

"I don't put in that much effort just to participate. I love the Olympic spirit, but that's not me. I want to move forward with a goal to follow. I don't know what he wants to do."

Steiner, now a television pundit for several F1 broadcasters, reflected on his time with Haas and admitted he might have left sooner if given the chance.

"To be honest, I did my time there, I built the team, and I'm happy with it. What Mr Haas does with it is none of my business, and to be completely transparent, I don't really care," he said.

"Maybe with what I know now, I would have left the team in 2022. We were going nowhere because we were constantly trying to 'do more with less,' when everyone else was 'doing more with more.'"