In F1, every single car update can be the difference between success and failure. But at Haas, a fascinating narrative is unfolding as Nico Hulkenberg, the experienced German driver, makes a significant choice ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix – he’s opting not to drive the team’s ‘B’-spec car, a move that speaks volumes about the small American team’s ongoing struggles and strategic decisions.
Hulkenberg’s return to Formula 1 this year has been marked by impressive performances, yet – lately – he’s openly critical of Haas’ efforts to level up with a major car upgrade introduced in Austin. “It’s not a clear step forward,” Hulkenberg candidly admitted after the race in Brazil, underlining the team’s challenges in advancing their technological edge.
In contrast, teammate Kevin Magnussen has shown a more tempered satisfaction with the ‘B’ car, though he concedes that the improvements are minor and not entirely problem-solving. “They don’t solve any problems on their own,” Magnussen observed, pointing to a future horizon where significant progress is hoped for. “We’ll have to wait and see next season, because then we really want to make progress. We hope that we can then take a big step in the right direction.”
This weekend in Las Vegas, Magnussen will continue to pilot the ‘B’ car, unlike the 36-year-old Hulkenberg. Team boss Gunther Steiner sheds light on this strategic divergence: “The main drive behind this was Nico feels that for him the old spec suits him better, and Kevin is the opposite.” In a sport where comfort and confidence in the car can be as crucial as the technology itself, is Steiner’s decision to cater to his drivers’ preferences a pragmatic approach in a season of mixed fortunes?
Haas’ decision not to emulate Aston Martin’s strategy of sacrificing races to gather data with experimental setups is another intriguing aspect of their game plan. “We could discuss gathering data, but we’ve got enough data,” Steiner stated, emphasizing a choice based on driver preference rather than technical experimentation.
Amidst these strategic choices, Haas faces a significant challenge: they are currently at the bottom of the constructors’ standings, and the ‘B’ car was a key part of their strategy to address the severe issue of tyre wear. With the Las Vegas track temperatures expected to be unusually cold, concerns about worsening problems loom large. Steiner, however, remains questionably optimistic. “I don’t think degradation can get much worse for us than in Brazil,” he said.