Haas declare ‘we are able to combat this yr’ after F1 Bahrain Grand Prix

At first blush, it was not the outcome that Haas hoped for from the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

However once you dig slightly deeper, the Components 1 workforce would possibly really feel a lot better about their probabilities this yr than they did a season in the past.

After qualifying in P10 for the primary race of the season, Nico Hülkenberg suffered entrance wing injury on the primary flip of the yr, which required an early pit cease and noticed him end outdoors of the factors. Teammate Kevin Magnussen, who started the day in P15, picked up just a few spots to complete in P12, however nonetheless outdoors the factors.

Nonetheless, the workforce leaves Bahrain believing the race was largely a “constructive” outcome for them, and that they’ll actually combat with the groups round them on the grid.

“I’m type of happy – not over the moon, as we didn’t rating factors – but it surely looks like we’ve got a automotive which is a bit higher on the tires this yr, not essentially faster than final yr however at the very least higher on tires, and I believe we’ve proven that at present,” stated Magnussen within the workforce’s post-race recap. “Nonetheless, it’s just one monitor, one little bit of tarmac, and one set of circumstances so we nonetheless have to point out that elsewhere. It’s been couple of weeks of labor, the workforce has executed a extremely good job, and we’re in place – we simply want to seek out extra.”

A giant story for the workforce all through the previous two weeks — from pre-season testing by way of the Bahrain Grand Prix — was their work to resolve tire degradation points from a season in the past. Final yr the VF-23 confirmed large one-lap tempo, most notably when Hülkenberg certified on the entrance row alongside Max Verstappen for the Canadian Grand Prix, however as quickly because the races started, they have been sliding again by way of the sector.

For Magnussen to select up just a few spots, and Hülkenberg in a position to take action as nicely after sliding again to P20 after his early pit cease, exhibits that the workforce may need solved that exact riddle.

Photograph by Joe Portlock – Components 1/Components 1 through Getty Photos

Even Hülkenberg, regardless of his bitter begin, was in a position to see the positives.

“It’s very irritating and disappointing, and it was a really comparable situation to final yr into Flip 4 initially. On a constructive observe, our race tempo and tire degradation regarded fairly affordable in comparison with the opposite midfield runners, and I believe we’re preventing Williams, Sauber and RB, so I assume we take that as a constructive,” stated the Haas driver. “There will likely be extra findings after at present, issues to enhance and optimize on. Jeddah is clearly a really completely different circuit with fully completely different traits, so we’ll see what we get there but it surely seems like we’ve got a a lot better basis to work with in comparison with final yr.”

Group Principal Ayao Komatsu, in his first race in that position at Haas, additionally noticed the positives from Saturday evening’s race.

And made a declaration about the place the workforce stands after one race.

“Okay it wasn’t the proper race, Nico had a nasty begin and broken his entrance wing which basically meant his race was over at that time. Kevin’s race confirmed that we are able to combat this yr.

“We don’t have the perfect degradation however at the very least within the midfield, we are able to combat for the factors.”

Going ahead, Komatsu is predicting a robust displaying for the workforce within the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, which is available in only a week.

“We didn’t do an ideal technique however even then, Kevin was preventing within the midfield till the final moments which was an enormous constructive. We all know the margin of error could be very, very small so we have to step-up on that aspect as nicely,” added Komatsu. “There are large positives to take from this weekend after which trying ahead to a different likelihood subsequent weekend. We’re actually trying ahead to a robust present once more in Jeddah.”