Is Gene Haas disenchanted with Formula 1?

Furthermore, the American outfit has had a tumultuous 2019 season, with its car struggling to cope with the Pirelli tyres and controversial title sponsor Rich Energy pulling out. Coupled to a crash-prone driver who has not been kind to the team's coffers.

But F1 business journalist Christian Sylt has found in Haas' financial statements that “the directors have received confirmation from Haas Formula LLC of its intention to provide such financial support as is necessary for the company to continue in operation for the foreseeable future and at least twelve months from the date of signing of these financial statements.”

According to Forbes, the statements were dated 17 May of this year, suggesting that Haas will at least be on the grid in 2019.

Sylt's report adds" "At the end of October Britain is on track to exit from the European Union which could send Haas in particular into a spin as it relies so heavily on trade with continental Europe. It is widely expected that Brexit will put the brakes on free movement of equipment and personnel between Britain and Europe.

Haas financial statements say with regards to Brexit that “it is difficult to evaluate all of the potential implications on the company’s logistical operations, trade, foreign exchange and the wider economy.”

F1 motorsport director Ross Brawn touched on the Haas speculation in his post-Russia analyses, in which he said, "the American team started this season with the hope of consolidating its progress. But, unfortunately, they seem to be going backwards, especially in the races.

"Although they’ve been a bit better in qualifying. At one point it seemed the team was in a vicious circle from a technical point of view, but Gunther Steiner’s men are back on track, dismantling the puzzle pieces put in place to date and reassembling the jigsaw all over again.

"Haas team is a valuable asset for F1. It is the first example of a new team establishing itself in a sport that for too many years has seen teams come and go in a short space of time, without ever really making their mark.

"It’s also important because it flies the US flag in a sport that is generally Euro-centric. It is vital for Formula 1 that we continue to support the growth in interest in the sport in the USA and in the absence of an American driver a Stars & Stripes team fulfils that role.

"Let’s hope therefore that Haas is on the up in this final part of the season and maybe they can even get a good result at their home race in Austin," said Brawn.

Owner Gene Haas has been very much hands-off with the F1 operation, allowing Steiner to run the show, and there is little to indicate that this will change in the near future, who might be the sport's most loved potty-mouth but questions about his true effectiveness at the helm can be asked.

Last year on the occasion of the United States Grand Prix weekend in Austin, Haas spoke his mind when he told reporters, “When I watch some of the races, and see how fast the top three teams just blow by on the race track, you are just somewhat aghast and like: wow, how did we miss that?

“I don’t know how those cars are so much faster. But if I talked to [engineer] Ayao [Komatsu], he says you have got a couple of tenths on your tyres, you have got a couple of tenths on your aero and your chassis is off a couple of tenths. That is your second or two.

“I know that we put a huge effort into trying to address all those parameters, but I don’t see how we are ever going to make up 1.5-2 seconds off these guys. They are just so much faster.

“How you go about doing that without the bigger teams somehow having workarounds I don’t know, but there is something wrong. I don’t think we can ever make up that gap,” declared Haas; nothing has changed since then.