Haas says outstanding debut impossible without Ferrari help

The American squad scored points in its first-ever race, with Romain Grosjean coming home in sixth position to put Haas fifth in the standings ahead of teams like McLaren, Toro Rosso or Renault.

Haas has benefited from its partnership with Ferrari, and Steiner says today's result proves it was the right way to go.

"Without the help from Ferrari, this wouldn't have happened. It cannot happen," said Steiner.

"That's what we said we are not going to do it like the other [new teams] because it's more of the same. We'd be five or six years without points. And then anybody would run out of enthusiasm and money.

"I'm cautious to say it's working, because we still have to repeat this. It's just one race. But the car is there, in the midfield, and that's already positive."

Steiner said the competitiveness of the car was more satisfying than the result itself, after Grosjean managed to keep drivers from more established teams behind.

Grosjean had started the race from 18th place.

"After yesterday we didn't expect to finish sixth," Steiner added. "We may have expected with a good strategy to finish in the points, 10th or ninth, but not sixth.

"And being competitive with the other ones is more satisfying than anything else."

Steiner admitted that the French driver had benefited from the red flag stoppage caused by the crash between teammate Esteban Gutierrez and Fernando Alonso.

"Absolutely. And maybe the lack of luck yesterday helped us today. You never know. Some you win, some you lose. We take it."

Speaking about Grosjean's performance, he said: "He did all that we took him on for. He delivered at a perfect level."

Additional reporting by Andrew van Leeuwen