Haas really likes Austria. It was in Spielberg that the American team achieved its best overall result in Formula 1, in 2018, with Romain Grosjean’s 4th place and Kevin Magnussen’s 5th place. It was also in Spielberg that it achieved its second best score in its history, in 2022, again with the Dane and Mick Schumacher. And so it was in Spielberg, on Sunday, that the American team scored a total of 12 points, its best result in two years.
If historically, Haas is at ease on the Red Bull Ring, the VF-24 had to struggle for a long time to resist the attacks of its opponents. Thanks to a good start, Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg managed to consolidate their place in the Top 10 from the first laps.
By opting for an offbeat strategy, with premature pit stops, the American team bet on the undercut during the two passages in the box. A profitable choice, since after each stop, the two Haas drivers were able to catch some air in front of the Racing Bulls and the Alpine, with whom they were fighting.
Thanks to their excellent top speed, they were able to maintain their advantage in their position… before gaining two additional places at the end of the race, following the collision between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. Final result: a 6th place for Nico Hülkenberg, an 8th place for Kévin Magnussen and above all, 12 points collected!
Hulkenberg in front of Pérez, “a major fact” pour Haas
“It was a hell of a race, especially at the end where it was very intense.says the German, who defended body and soul his 6th position in front of the Red Bull of Sergio Pérez. It was tricky leaving Pérez behind in the last two laps, but in turn 3, I let him pass in front to have the DRS, which allowed me to get back in front. »
“I’m very happy, it’s a double finish in the points for the team, which will help us a lot.he adds. I did not expect this. It’s an incredible performance from the team, and I think it now confirms that in the middle of the pack, on all types of tracks, we are competitive. We can fight and that’s really good news. »
A performance that impressed Ayao Komatsu, ecstatic with this overall result which allows Haas to move up in the Constructors’ standings to 7th place ahead of Alpine, and to catch up with Racing Bulls for 6th place.
“I am very happy for everyone on the team. Sometimes we are unlucky, but today our execution was incredible, Nico and Kevin drove well, the pit stops were good, everything was perfect, rejoices the Haas Team Principal. I’m speechless, I’m so happy for everyone to get this result and for Nico, to beat Perez fairly, it’s a major achievement.”
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