Haas bracing for more tyre struggles in Baku

Haas team boss Guenther Steiner fears the tyre issues that dogged the performance of its VF-19 in Bahrain and China could weigh even more heavily on the team in Baku.

Haas kicked off its 2019 campaign with a solid outing in Melbourne, courtesy of Kevin Magnussen's P6 finish, but the team's level of performance has since fizzled, with the Dane and team mate Romain Grosjean running out of the points in Bahrain and Shanghai.

Both drivers made the Q3 cut in qualifying, for the third time this season, a result that pointed towards the VF-19's strong pace on short runs.

F1i's Driver Ratings for the 2019 Chinese GP

On Sunday however, the car once again failed to offer Magnussen and Grosjean a shot at scoring points. The race was a clear indication that the team has yet to solve the troubles that started in Bahrain.

"We understood the problem after Bahrain but we couldn’t fix it in time for here, we still need to work on it," said Steiner.

"We need to keep on working and try and find a solution to our big issue.

"We didn’t have this in winter testing, as the track is completely different to these tracks like Bahrain, here and Baku.

"Baku is even worse - I’m readying myself for the disappointment. I hope we find something before Baku. At these race tracks we can’t get energy into the tyre."

©Haas

Steiner identified the track configuration that least suits Haas' Ferrari-powered VF-19.

"It’s high-speed tracks with long straights and low energy corners where we can’t get the heat into the tyres. That’s what it is.

"In winter testing, even if it was cold in Barcelona, you load the tyres a lot, you have energy to put in, you can keep the heat in it.

"In Australia, the temperature is higher and it was fine. But in Bahrain and here, it just doesn’t work."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.