Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has revealed the team’s aims for the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix are focusing on improving their race pace and addressing their persistent issues with tyre degradation.
The team’s struggles in managing their tyres effectively during race stints have been a significant factor impacting their performance this season.
This was evident in the Canadian Grand Prix, where Nico Hulkenberg, despite qualifying in a promising second position (before a penalty), experienced a dramatic drop to 15th place during the race.
In light of these challenges, Steiner emphasised that the Austrian Grand Prix weekend at the iconic Red Bull Ring would serve as a crucial testing session for Haas.
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The team aims to use this opportunity to explore different strategies and find solutions to their race pace concerns.
Steiner expressed their eagerness to experiment with various approaches, saying: “We have a lot of things to try and cure our problems with the race pace, so we have a few ideas.”
The addition of the sprint race on Saturday, alongside the traditional Grand Prix on Sunday, presents Haas with double the amount of track time to conduct their experiments.
This extended schedule allows them to test different setups, strategies, and approaches to gain valuable insights into their car’s performance.
Steiner acknowledged the importance of gaining a comprehensive understanding of their car’s behaviour on race day, even if it means compromising their potential for achieving the best possible race result.
He emphasised the team’s willingness to make sacrifices in pursuit of identifying and resolving the underlying issues, stating: “Maybe we compromise the best result possible for really understanding what is happening with our car on race day.”
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Haas recognised that rectifying their race pace problems is essential for their overall competitiveness and performance improvement.
By using the Austrian Grand Prix weekend as a dedicated testing session, the team aims to address the persistent tyre degradation issues that have hindered their progress throughout the season.
Steiner and the entire Haas team are focused on finding effective solutions to enhance their race performance and secure better results in the upcoming races.