Haas unsure if test problems are same as Ferrari's

The new American outfit was only able to compete 23 laps on Tuesday after Esteban Gutierrez suffered a fuel system failure that could not be fixed until tonight.

Off the back of an engine control system problem last week, and mounting questions surrounding Ferrari's 2016 power unit reliability, the Haas troubles could be evidence of wider issues.

However, Haas team principal Gunther Steiner said that only Ferrari would know for definite what the real situation was.

“I don't really know what problems they have got,” he said. “They don't tell me what they have got.

“They know what we have got, but I don't know what they have got, so I can't answer that one.”

Compact programme

Steiner has no doubts the fuel system problem can be rectified before tomorrow and thinks that there is still plenty of opportunity this week to make up the lost time.

“I would have been happier if we had run today, to be honest, but again we are sorting the problems,” he said.

“As long as we get out again tomorrow and run, I am pretty happy. We had a good week last week and cannot complain.

“It cannot go perfect all the time. I hope that we can run the next few days because otherwise frustrations set in pretty quick.”

Gutierrez request

Although Steiner says the lack of mileage does not yet justify a change of driver plan for the rest of the week, Gutierrez thinks there could be grounds for him getting another half day.

“I think it is open for a discussion, and let's see how that goes,” explained the Mexican. “I don't want to interrupt the programme because when you split, it can be quite compromising for the programme.

“But it is something that I will now discuss and see how can handle it and what is best for the whole programme.”

Reflecting on his day, which did at least allow the team to conduct some FIA procedural checks for legality, Gutierrez added: “It is not ideal. There is not a lot to say.

“I think we have a solution to find, which the team is working very hard on at the moment to get back on track with our programme.

“And let's hope that we can fit in three days what we had for four days.”