Haas’s 2023 challenger confirmed flashes of tempo in qualifying, significantly within the palms of the returning Nico Hulkenberg.
However issues with the VF-23’s extreme tyre overheating, particularly on extra demanding circuits and in hotter situations, have prevented the group from changing its one-lap tempo into first rate outcomes over a race distance.
Hulkenberg and team-mate Kevin Magnussen have every solely managed to attain factors on two events, leaving Haas a joint seventh within the standings heading into the second half of the season.
Haas’s disastrous Belgian Grand Prix, the final race earlier than the summer time shutdown wherein Magnussen and Hulkenberg completed a distant fifteenth and 18th respectively, indicated {that a} resolution nonetheless hasn’t been discovered.
In an unique interview with Autosport, group boss Steiner admitted that Haas’ season thus far has been “tough to digest”.
“Clearly, we began off fairly good however then did not come up with our issues instantly, which is the tyre overheating,” Steiner stated when requested to guage his group’s season thus far.
“And now we’re somewhat bit on the again foot. We will do excellent qualifyings and really unhealthy races, we will do each of them. For the entire group it is a rollercoaster to have these highs on a Saturday and these lows on a Sunday. It is tough to digest.
“We’re working very arduous on it and hopefully we have got one thing after the break. However it’s not straightforward and till you attempt it on the automobile, you do not know.
“You are able to do quite a lot of simulations, calculations, no matter. However you must put the stuff on the automobile, as a result of it is nonetheless a really bizarre drawback we have now acquired in comparison with all people else. However you can’t surrender.”
Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-23, Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-23
Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Many midfield rivals have shifted the vast majority of their sources in direction of 2024, however Steiner identified his group first wants to repair the supply of its tyre points, so the issue does not carry over to subsequent 12 months’s mission.
“I feel we have to repair this one earlier than. We will go parallel to 2024 however we can’t ignore this one now and simply go for ’24,” he defined.
“In case you do not perceive it then it may very well be within the ’24 automobile once more, that might be fairly silly. We’re working now on the ’23 automobile flat out to make it higher.”
Haas shares its energy unit, gearbox and suspension with associate group Ferrari, and likewise makes use of the identical wind tunnel. Because it occurs, Ferrari too struggles to maintain its tyres alive and replicate its qualifying performances over a race distance.
Theories counsel Haas’s issues may very well be inherited from taking Ferrari’s rear finish. Steiner famous the 2 squads weren’t affected by precisely the identical points however did concede the similarities warranted additional investigation.
“It is very bizarre. With them you’ll be able to see it so much much less as a result of they run increased, but when they hadn’t had it, would they win races perhaps? However that is not for me to speak about, that is for Fred to speak about,” Steiner added.
“In case you see the Ferrari, it is not the identical drawback. And the purpose is that does not make our drawback higher. Anyone else having a foul day and me having a foul day does not make my day higher. I am nonetheless having a foul day, you recognize?
“However clearly, it must be checked out as nicely and we do. It isn’t like we’re sitting right here and doing nothing, however there may very well be a difficulty within the specifics there.”
Haas’s plight is especially irritating as a result of a number of midfield rivals had began the season with an inherently slower automobile, however the group didn’t capitalise earlier than others had been in a position to catch up.
“Completely, if we’d have sorted our stuff out [we could have been way higher up],” stated Steiner.
“However the one factor you are able to do with issues like these is to maintain your head down and maintain working.
“[McLaren] made good steps ahead, honest play to them, they did a great job. However the good factor on that one is that it’s attainable. Simply realizing that it’s attainable is a motivation.”