Haas are F1’s shock package deal of the primary three rounds of the 2024 season.
The US-based workforce claimed a double factors end on the F1 Australian Grand Prix with Nico Hulkenberg ninth and Kevin Magnussen tenth.
Haas completed backside of the constructors’ championship final season and appeared in disarray when widespread workforce boss Guenther Steiner left his job, claiming the proprietor didn’t wish to spend money on their enchancment.
It means back-to-back sudden factors finishes for Haas after Hulkenberg was tenth in Saudi Arabia.
Hulkenberg was requested if he predicted Haas’ glorious Australia weekend: “I don’t assume let’s imagine with confidence.
“However on Friday the automotive felt higher on excessive gas on lengthy runs, than it did with low gas. That’s completely different to final yr, and constructive.
“A clear race, just a few fights right here and there. The primary VSC helped my case.
“Good pit stops, good technique and execution by the workforce. With George Russell’s crash, a double factors end, fairly good.”
Hulkenberg pinpointed the essential manufacturing unit: “We did plenty of work on the aero aspect.
“Modified the aero attribute. It’s a lot better this yr, and permits us to handle the tyres higher within the race. That’s the important thing.”
Ayao Komatsu took over from Steiner as workforce principal, representing a pivot from a enterprise mind to an engineering focus.
A beaming Komatsu stated in Australia: “It’s superb, two races in a row. An entire workforce effort. The boys did a tremendous job.
“If I’m sincere, our race operation was not good. We might have accomplished a lot better. However truthfully I’m so comfortable.”
Komatsu stated their sole error was: “Kevin’s first pit cease. That technique wasn’t proper. Similar as Bahrain, we are able to’t preserve making these errors.”
Sky Sports activities’ Karun Chandhok insists that the primary two rounds of the 2024 season hinted at Haas’ progress.
“I wouldn’t say shocked,” Chandhok reacted to their good Australia outcome.
“That they had good race tempo within the first two races.
“I’m actually comfortable for Komatsu. Steiner is a large character with huge sneakers to fill.
“When Komatsu was introduced as the brand new workforce principal there was a collective groan throughout the paddock, like ‘that’s an underwhelming selection’.
“However folks underestimated him. A) he’s passionate B) he’s engineer-driven in his selections.
“I met him when he labored with Anthony Davidson in 2001.
“He’s modified the mindset in that workforce, and their strategy.
“It’s efficiency, efficiency, efficiency in each resolution that they make. And it’s paying dividends.”
Haas are seventh within the F1 constructors’ championship after the primary three rounds of the 2024 season, with 4 factors.
Beneath them, Sauber, Williams and Alpine await their first level.
