Photo by Jayce Illman/Getty Images
After two strong race weekends, Haas looks to keep things rolling at the Hungarian Grand Prix
After a week off, the Formula 1 grid roars back to life this weekend with the Hungarian Grand Prix, the first race of a doubleheader before the summer shutdown.
At Haas, they are looking to “capitalize” on their recent success.
Haas banked 20 points over the previous two race weekends, results that pulled the team to within just four points of Visa Cash App RB F1 Team for sixth in the Constructors’ Championship standings. At the Austrian Grand Prix, Nico Hülkenberg finished sixth and Kevin Magnussen came across eighth, giving the team 12 points thanks to the strong double-points finish.
Then at Silverstone for the British Grand Prix Hülkenberg again finished in sixth, giving him and the team eight more points.
The team credits the recent upgrades to the VF-24 for their recent run of success and believes that the layout in Hungary gives them a chance at redemption at what they are considering a second Monaco Grand Prix.
“Budapest is a high-downforce circuit with short straights. It’s basically Monaco-esque with the downforce so we’re bringing of course the Monaco level of downforce and combining that with the Silverstone update,” said Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu in the team’s media preview. “I know in Monaco we were quick on the straights, but with the upgrades of course we’ve improved our aero downforce, so I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do in Hungary. It will be a very different challenge to Silverstone as qualifying is everything. It’s very, very difficult to overtake around the Hungaroring, so you put more emphasis on qualifying.
“In Monaco, we couldn’t come home with anything so I’d like to put that right, this is like a second Monaco for us. I’m looking forward to it, it’s a very different challenge, but we’re ready for it.”
Kevin Magnussen also drew upon the Monaco comparison.
“Looking back at this season we’ve been competitive at most of the locations we’ve been to, so hopefully looking forward to another competitive weekend on this high-downforce circuit. The track is fun, it’s a small circuit, kind of like a go-kart track and always has a good atmosphere – there’s often quite a few Danish fans at this one,” said Magnussen. “I think we’re going into a double-header with two very different tracks, one very high-downforce – almost like our Monaco package – in Budapest, and one low-downforce track with Spa, so we’re really going to be putting the VF-24 to the test.”
As for Hülkenberg, the team’s recent success gives them an opportunity heading into the doubleheader and the summer shutdown.
“The Hungaroring is a fun challenge and I like the place. The focus is still on the Saturday though as overtaking is notoriously difficult, but after a couple of good points hauls, and what felt like a good improvement to the car with our new update, I’m ready to put it to the test,” said Hülkenberg. “We’re in a good spot at the moment and everyone in the team is highly motivated, so we need to capitalize on that for the final two races before summer.”
Haas will get their first crack at a Monaco redemption Friday with the two practice sessions, before a critically-important qualifying day Saturday.
