Report 2017 – Haas: The Confirmation

8th in the championship, 47pts

Best qualification: 6th

Best race result: 6th

After a convincing first season for a rookie team, Haas was closely watched with the new 2017 regulations. It is evident that the team succeeded in its challenge. By maintaining 8th place in the constructors’ championship, the American outfit demonstrated that it is indeed one of the teams to rely on in Formula 1. The subcontracting model appears to work and allows focus on the operational side while limiting design costs.

Having opted for continuity by extending Romain Grosjean, who was pivotal to the performance in 2016, Haas decided to part ways with Esteban Gutiérrez in favor of Kevin Magnussen, leaving Renault and proving to be much more consistent.

If the 2017 campaign started off badly with a double retirement in Melbourne, the first half of the season nevertheless saw the team regularly score points (5 Grand Prix in the Top 10 between Spain and Austria). Unlike the previous season, Haas can now rely on both its drivers to score points, a crucial factor for the team’s establishment in the midfield.

However, the structure seemed to lose momentum in the second half of the season, with a significant slowdown in development, which shifted relatively early towards 2018 as Günther Steiner acknowledged. In Mexico, the American cars even seemed to struggle against the Saubers, which, however, have a 2016-specification engine… The 6th place in the championship remained within reach until the last race in Abu Dhabi!

The consistency of performances, however, raises some doubts about the team’s ability to fully understand the VF-17, which seems to operate within very specific parameters. It should be noted that the recurring brake problems in 2016 are still visible in 2017, especially for Romain Grosjean, who is demanding in this regard. However, the recent Grand Prix races have shown that the team seems to have found the solution on that front.

In 2018, the team will be able to capitalize on the consistency of both the drivers and the technical team to strengthen itself and perhaps aim higher. The technical support from Ferrari, a leading team in 2017, also raises hopes that this will have a positive impact on the Haas cars. Teams like Toro Rosso or Sauber, or even Williams in the best-case scenario, should be within their reach, and it will be important to establish themselves as true challengers.

Editor’s note: 13/20

Romain Grosjean:

13th in the championship, 28 pts

Best qualification: 6th

Best race result: 6th

With 122 Grand Prix under his belt, Romain Grosjean can now be considered an experienced Formula 1 driver. In his second season with Haas, the French driver once again demonstrated considerable speed when the conditions were right. He finished in the same 13th place in the standings as in 2016 with almost the same number of points (28).

The Frenchman experienced a contrasting season, with standout performances and weekends to forget (Malaysia, Mexico…). Unfortunately, it’s the latter that perhaps leave the biggest impression when reflecting on the season… Too often, the driver openly complained on the radio about his car out of frustration, which is not good for the team or his career. While Grosjean emerged from the 2016 season as a possible contender for a Ferrari seat, for now, the future seems limited to Haas, a team he fully trusts but where he will need to assert himself more as a leader to hope for better opportunities. If he succeeds, the horizon could clear up for him once again. His mistake may have been leaving Lotus when Renault arrived…

Editor’s Note: 12/20

Kevin Magnussen:

14th in the championship, 19 pts

Best qualification: 7th

Best race result: 7th

Kevin Magnussen’s career in Formula 1 is certainly not one of the simplest. After a 2014 season as a main driver at McLaren, where he was touted as a future F1 star, he was demoted to the role of third driver to make room for Fernando Alonso. Recruited by Renault in 2016, he chose not to accept the one-season contract offered by the French brand for 2017 and succumbed to the allure of the Haas team.

This choice, which may seem surprising, was probably beneficial for the Dane, who for the first time did not have to endure the pressure imposed by a factory team. In a perhaps more family-like environment, he seems to have found his place and has demonstrated that he can be relied upon, holding his own with Romain Grosjean depending on the rounds of the season. Criticisms related to his lack of commitment have also disappeared.

However, many drivers and observers have noted overly aggressive behavior on the track, with numerous incidents of pushing beyond the track limits and defenses exceeding the acceptable limits. Worse, Magnussen seems to want to assert himself in the paddock with, in addition to his maneuvers, offensive remarks against other drivers who (rightfully) complain about his behavior. In trying to build a tough-guy image, the Haas driver may have permanently closed the doors to more prestigious teams where driver reputation is crucial. Nevertheless, he retains the full support of his management, led by Günther Steiner, who do not hesitate to criticize the FIA’s decisions against him and to describe his behavior as a “joke” within the team.

For the first time, the Dane will be able to play on continuity, as he will be spending two consecutive seasons in the same structure for the first time. However, his attitude will need to be monitored…

Note from the editor: 11/20