Haas drivers still clueless as to why erratic form persists

©Haas

Haas endured its worst performance of the 2019 season in Austria, the US outfit's drivers still clueless as to the reasons behind the performance swings of their VF-19.

Kevin Magnussen's impressive fifth-place performance in qualifying boded well for the Dane's Sunday, even considering a start from P10 following a five-spot grid drop.

From the outset however, Magnussen lost his footing, his VF-19's speed having melted away overnight, forcing its driver gradually down the order where it would remain all afternoon.

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Asked after the race how a car that qualified fifth ended up having the depressed pace of a Williams, Magnussen's reply was as harsh as the question itself.

"We didn't have the pace of the Williams, I was a bit slower!" quipped the despondent Dane.

"I don't understand it, it's very strange. I don't know where to look, I don't know what to say, it's really confusing.

"Nothing was really working, it felt pretty hopeless. It’s really confusing."

Teammate Romain Grosjean, who hardly fared better at the Red Bull Ring, finishing his race P16, could offer no additional insight into the reasons for Haas' mysterious unpredictability.

"Just no grip in the first few laps and then no pace, no balance either," added the Frenchman.

"So really tried hard to fight the car, I thought I was going to spin 15 or 20 times! We’ll work on it, we’ll find it, it may take some time.

"I’m sure our guys have got the resources to get on top of our issues. There’s obviously just something that we’re not doing quite right."

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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.