Grosjean looking to sign off in style

Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit will signal the end of the 2016 FIA Formula One World Championship.

Haas F1 is the first American team in the sport for 30 years and 20 races into its debut season it is very much a part of the Formula One paddock.

The 29 points the Banbury team has earned so far this season are the most of any new team in this millennium. When Jaguar debuted in 2000 and when Toyota came on the scene in 2002, each entity managed only two point-paying finishes in their entire first seasons for a combined total of six points.

When Romain Grosjean finished sixth at Australia to score eight points for Haas, it was the first time a Formula One team scored points in its debut race since 2002 when Mika Salo finished sixth for Toyota in the Australian Grand Prix.

Steiner said: “We’ve been building up this team for more than two years, almost three years, so it has been a very exciting and a very challenging mission.

“I call this year our first season because we showed what we can do but we worked on it for three years. It has gone so quickly that it’s been incredible.”

Grosjean added: “It’s been a great season, joining the team for its first year was something special.

“I wanted to be the first person to score points for the team and a top five. The next two targets are podiums and wins. “There have been ups and downs but, generally, I’m very proud of everything we’ve done.

“It’s always difficult to pick out one moment from the season but I’d say Australia, our first race together and our first points.

“After Abu Dhabi it be time to sit down and see what we can improve but we’ve done very well for a first season.”