(Motorsports news) Despite finishing 10th in Singapore, the US-owned team has struggled with race performance for the majority of the season. The vehicles fell down the order again in Japan, with Magnussen hampered by contact from Sergio Perez and teammate Nico Hulkenberg hampered by the requirement to complete a three-stop plan. They finished 14th and 15th, respectively, with the German ahead.
While the squad awaits Austin developments, Magnussen concurred that the next race in Qatar will be challenging as well. “It’s survival mode until then,” Magnussen replied when asked about the impending package. “With this car, we scored a point in Singapore.” So that circuit was better suited to our automobile. “There are always reasons to give our all, and we will do so in Qatar as well.”
I’ve never been there, but it’s a really fast track, similar to this one in some ways, with long, flowing fast corners. It’s not truly our territory, remarked Magnussen. I think qualifying for myself personally was positive,” the Dane remarked of his race in Suzuka. “But P15 wasn’t satisfactory.” So I’m just trying to focus on what I can do and make sure I accomplish the things I can control properly, added Magnussen.
Guenther Steiner, Haas team principal, claimed that there were still positives to be extracted from the Japanese GP weekend. “We know where we are, and I believe we executed our plan as well as we can,” he told. “The pit stops were excellent, the best of the season, and we had five of them.”
“Of course, we tried a three-stop with Nico because he didn’t have two sets of hard tyres and couldn’t do it on a two-stop.” We just did our best with the automobile. “And I believe we got very close to the AlphaTauris in the end, and Kevin, if not for Perez’s spin, might have been able to fight them.” Maybe and if don’t help, but in the end, we know where we are.
“And I’m hoping the package works in Austin.” And even if it doesn’t work, we’ll have learned something for next year.” Haas will only compete in five races with the revised vehicle, and Steiner admitted that the team won’t have much opportunity to fine-tune the package. “Absolutely, and we had very little time to develop it,” he replied.
“And when we decided to do it, we were open to bringing as many races as possible to Austin. I’m not just being cautious. I’m simply hoping it works and provides us with what we expect. And if it doesn’t do that, it does the other, which will benefit us next year.”
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