Haas surprised in Australian Grand Prix of F1, achieving a double points finish after almost two years. This success marks a turning point for the American team, especially considering the recent change of Team Principal with Ayao Komatsu. Despite the challenges of 2024, the team seems determined to improve and fight for higher positions in the table. Haas' good result in Melbourne also attracted attention at Fanta F1, where Nico Hulkenberg confirmed himself as one of the most lined up thanks to its excellent performance and low price.
Haas, a great start
When there are big changes it is usually not easy to find the right path straight away and yet Haas seems to have done so, taking points in both Jeddah and Melbourne. Despite an error in the pits that took away Magnussen's chance to fight with Tsunoda, teamwork and the promptness in reacting to unforeseen situations allowed both drivers to score vital points for the team. The team demonstrated a notable improvement in the car's performance, highlighted by the drivers' ability to maintain a competitive pace throughout the entire race. This suggests that Haas has made significant progress in the development of the car compared to the previous season, providing drivers with a more competitive machine to work with.
From a strategic point of view, Haas demonstrated its ability to quickly adapt to changing race circumstances, making the most of opportunities arising from situations such as the Virtual Safety Car. A success also welcomed with enthusiasm by the Fantamanagers, who see the Haas drivers as a winning choice for their team in Fanta F1.
Komatsu warns: “Suzuka is not Melbourne, and we will pay for the fast corners there”
Haas' presence in the points in Melbourne allowed the team to widen the gap with teams such as Williams, Sauber and Alpine. Despite this the Komatsu team principal said he was still very skeptical about a constant stay in the points zone. “Our race pace was better than our flying lap shown in Melbourne, but if nothing happens in the top positions, it is very difficult for us to score points. Melbourne is a very specific track. I don't know if we have really solved our problems with tire degradation. We will probably pay in Suzuka because of the fast corners, where we know we will have problems. We now know well what the car's weak points are and we can improve, but in the past we have made mistakes precisely in this regard. We will have to be better,” Komatsu said.
