Haas was able to add new items to Miami

At the Haas F1 home circuit in Miami, the US team not only improved – Kevin Magnussen was also lucky in qualifying and will start from an excellent fourth position. It didn’t go so well for his teammate Nico Hulkenberg as the German driver did not make it to the last session, partly due to traffic problems.

At the Florida stage, the Haas engineering department prepared a modernized bottom, and the effect of its implementation appeared almost immediately. The novelty made it possible to tune the car in a slightly different way: the backlash became a little less, while there are no special signs of build-up on the straights.

The lower the ground clearance, the more pronounced the ground effect that the bottom of this generation of cars provides, the downforce has increased accordingly, and the VF-23 is already better at cornering. It is important that progress is made without increasing resistance.

During training, the team’s engineers constantly changed the ground clearance, trying to find the optimal value. In the end they succeeded, and the new very slippery asphalt in Miami allowed at least one Haas driver to take full advantage of the improved soil in qualifying.

“Of course I was a bit lucky in qualifying, but even if other riders didn’t have problems preventing them, I could still move up to seventh or eighth position,” says Kevin. – Of course, the novelties helped us, although the process of analyzing their effectiveness is still ongoing. But the impressions of pilots are very positive, which is always a good sign. Our result in qualifying also confirms that the novelties work well.”

Of course, as the race progresses it will become clear to what extent Magnussen will be able to hold back the onslaught of drivers starting behind him in faster cars, but it is difficult to overtake at the Miami circuit as there is only normal grip. on the main race track, and beyond, the tarmac is still quite dusty.

However, the Dane is quite realistic about his chances: “Our pace with a high fuel load was at a decent level and it was quite comfortable to fly. Maybe the pace isn’t good enough to hold the 4th position yet, but our goal is to earn points.

We have to be realistic because fast cars start behind us, but if we manage to finish in the top ten then it should suit us.”

Nico Hulkenberg, who starts from 12th position, has a slightly more optimistic, if not militant attitude: who knows how to apply the most correct tactics.

Of course, given that you can fight for points with the VF-23 car, Haas F1 really hopes that both cars will finish in the top ten for their American partners and sponsors.