Steiner: Rain in Monza cannot be ruled out

Gunther Steiner, head of Haas F1, commented on the results of the race weekend in Zandvoort and spoke about preparations for the upcoming Italian Grand Prix, admitting that the Monza circuit is not the best suited for the VF-22.

Q: Recalling the events of last race weekend, it should of course be noted that Mick Schumacher reached the qualifying final for the fourth time this season. Were you surprised afterwards that the car was not particularly fast in Friday practice?
Gunther Steiner: We knew that our car had to show itself in Zandvoort, because there are fast and medium corners on this circuit. In this respect it can be compared to Silverstone and Spielberg where we performed quite well.

Mick managed to get the most out of the VF-22 and he did well to make it to the final. Unfortunately Kevin Magnussen failed to adapt to the track and show a good result. He was close, but we just didn’t have time for it. At least we know that the car drives efficiently and it just takes a little luck on Sunday to earn points. But we didn’t make it last weekend, although qualifying went well.

Question Race day didn’t go very smoothly: Mick struggled during the pit stop and Kevin retired early. How do you react to such incidents when they occur early in the race? Do you still believe that you just have to keep fighting to get better?
Gunther Steiner: Doubtless. The management of the team does not give up, we always try to make the best of every situation. We almost managed to turn the tide when the virtual safety car mode was introduced and when the safety car came onto the track, but by then we were already too far behind.

Partly due to a problematic pit stop: the front jack blocked when the car was raised – this has not happened in all seven years, but now it happened exactly during the Grand Prix. Over the weekend we made 50-100 pit stops, but the breakdown occurred on the day of the race. This is an unfortunate coincidence, but we remain hesitant whatever happens and will continue to do so.

Q: Ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, the last race of the European stage of the season. Although the characteristics of the Monza circuit are not very suitable for the VF-22 in theory, what does the team expect for next weekend?
Gunther Steiner: We know Monza is not the most suitable track for us. High-speed circuits, where high speeds are required, where low pressure is required, are not suitable for our car. This year it is difficult for us to fight on such tracks, but the team is working hard and trying to find solutions for next season, and I am sure our form will be better in 2023.

Now in the course of these races we are trying to gain as much experience as possible and gather information for the modernization of the car so that we can do better next season than we are now.

We always do our best, and it cannot be ruled out that it will rain in Monza this weekend. We must always give 100%, and when we know that there are difficulties ahead, we must make even more efforts.

Q: In Italy, in Maranello, there is a design department of the team. His team is increasingly experienced and united – how is the work going on the 2023 car? What lessons learned this season is Haas using for this new project?
Gunther Steiner: At the beginning of last year we organized a design department in Italy, almost from scratch. In my opinion, the car made for this season turned out to be quite good. The lessons we learned in 2022 will help us work even harder on building the new chassis and I think things are smoother now that the team has come together.

Everyone already understands what needs to be done and we moved on to preparing for next year a few months ago, so now the team continues to learn and is actively involved in this project so that we have a good car by 2023.