Kevin Magnussen says Haas’ big upgrade in Austin delivered “some positive signs”, but the Dane insists it will “take some time” to verify their impact.
Haas rolled out a significantly revised VF-23 at The Circuit of the Americas, with the car’s Red Bull-inspired changes representing a veritable change of philosophy for the US outfit.
The team was the last on the grid to convert to the bulls’ trademark downwash sidepod concept in a bid to improve aerodynamic efficiency, but also to establish a foundation for next season.
Both Magnussen and teammate Nico Hulkenberg enjoyed a strong opening practice on Friday, with both drivers classified among the top ten in FP1.
But qualifying delivered a different verdict, with Hulkenberg failing to exit Q1 while Magnussen was left stranded in Q2, although he felt a spot in Q3 was achievable.
“There were some positive signs in both free practice and Q1, but then I didn’t do a good job in Q2, unfortunately,” commented the Dane at the end of Friday’s running.
“I’m still kind of just learning this car again, getting to know it, and I made two bad laps in Q2, but was still only around two-tenths (0.304s) from Q3.”
©Haas
Expanding on his initial impressions on Haas’ revised contender, Magnussen suggested that more mileage would be required to gain a proper understanding of the true benefits delivered by the wholesale changes.
“I have some feelings,” he said. “But I don’t want to conclude anything yet because it’s a different track, different Tarmac, different wind conditions, different compounds to the last time.
“It’s very hard to compare in such detail, but I feel something. It will take more time to verify.”
©Haas
Haas’ big issue this season has been chronic tyre degradation, a problem that has thwarted its drivers’ efforts on race day more times than they care to remember.
The team hopes that its new package will go a long way towards solving its degradation predicament, but it will need to wait until Sunday to find out. Fifty-six laps of the Circuit of the Americas will provide a key test for Haas.
“The real question, the real test is on Sunday,” insisted K-Mag.
“We know the old car could do one lap. That’s not the question. I was P6 three races ago in qualifying in Singapore, so we know we can do it over one lap.
“So again, the real question is on Sunday, whether the car is better on the tyres, if the performance is better. That’s what we’re really looking for.
“It’s not really whether we’re a little bit better on one lap or not.”
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