F1 News: Kevin Magnussen And Nico Hulkenberg To Start Austin GP From Pit After Haas Upgrade Mishap
Both Haas drivers, Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg, will begin the US Grand Prix from the pit lane after grappling with their recent upgrades. The choice comes as a consequence of the team's struggles in the run-up to the Austin race.
Key Takeaways:
- The Circuit of the Americas witnessed both Haas introducing upgrades, anticipating improved performance. However, these changes didn't yield the desired outcomes.
- After a lacklustre Friday qualifying, with Haas cars securing 14th and 16th, their performance was further hampered in the Sprint due to parc ferme rules.
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Haas' new B-spec cars, designed more in congruence with the "Red Bull concept," as per team principal Guenther Steiner, didn't manage to rise above 14th and 16th positions in Friday's qualifying.
The Sprint day was no relief either. Unable to modify the cars post-qualifying due to parc ferme regulations, the American team endured a pace-deficient performance. Addressing this, the team has now chosen to alter their setups and commence the main Austin race from the pit lane.
Aston Martin is also starting both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll from the pit lane. Reports suggest that Aston Martin's solution involves fitting Alonso's car with an older floor version, while Stroll retains the Austin modifications.
The mood in both camps was palpably subdued. The Haas team, especially, showed evident disappointment. Neither Hulkenberg nor Steiner seemed pleased with the Saturday outcome at the Circuit of the Americas. While Steiner stressed the need to "find more as the upgrade's not done what we expected," Hulkenberg pointed out the persistent issues from the old package, especially noticeable in the high-speed corners.
With a solitary point across the past eight Grands Prix, Haas now finds themselves lagging behind Alfa Romeo in the championship standings. They currently trail the Ferrari-affiliated team by a margin of four points, positioning ninth.
