Komatsu: “It was probably the best race of Kevin that I’ve seen”
The Haas team had another convincing weekend in Mexico. Ayao Komatsu, the director of the American team, was particularly impressed by Magnussen's performance, who was even able to catch up with Verstappen towards the end of the race.
This might be the good surprise of the season. The Haas team, last in the constructors’ championship in 2023 and has announced at the beginning of the season that the year would be difficult, has just finished in the points for the tenth time this season and for the second time in a row with both cars. Finishing in seventh and ninth place this weekend in Mexico, Haas extends the gap with Racing Bulls for sixth place in the constructors’ standings and now has a ten-point lead over the team from Faenza.
Komatsu admiring the pace of Magnussen this weekend
For the team boss Ayao Komatsu, it’s a fantastic result that allows to forget the mistake made by the team in Austin when they decided to pit Magnussen for a second time. This weekend, the team optimized everything to score an additional eight points and truly asserts itself as the best of the rest after the top four teams. A very satisfying result partly due to the magnificent race performed by the Dane. The Japanese also declared being very happy for his driver, who will most likely leave the world of Formula 1 this season, and was impressed by his pace throughout the race. He drove very well in Austin, but we could not capitalize on Sunday, but this weekend, he had an incredible qualifying.
« His pace in the second relay was incredible, he was catching up with Verstappen in his Red Bull and finished just four seconds behind. It was probably the best race by Kevin that I’ve seen, I am so happy for him. » Indeed, the Dane concluded a perfectly executed weekend. Already seventh after qualifying, Magnussen only left this position when he made his pit stop and even managed to battle with the two Mercedes at the beginning of the race. Towards the end of the race, he even caught up with Verstappen’s Red Bull, struggling with his hard tires, and was able to resist Piastri, who had less worn tires. Finishing in the same position where he started, the former Renault driver praised the work done by the engineers who designed a car that suits both drivers perfectly.
« When we managed to put everything in place, it’s a great feeling » testifies Magnussen, referring to the missed opportunity in the United States. « I was able to push hard during the race, attack very hard on the tires, and everything worked well. The car had a good balance to have grip with the tires. When we put it on track on Friday, we didn’t have to change anything, it’s really awesome. We had a great advantage over the other cars in the middle of the pack » the Danish driver concluded.
Hülkenberg salutes the work of the whole team
Having more difficulty with the car, Hülkenberg still managed to bring back two additional points for the American team. The German preferred to mention the whole team’s positive new weekend. « Points, a good day for the team, a great race by Kevin, he was brilliant. He was very fast during the race so he deserves it. We’ll take these points, and it’s very positive, a very good weekend for us. I am very happy, it’s very rewarding. Everyone’s work has paid off, we are regular point contenders, which is good news. This is my fourth consecutive points finish including the Austin Sprint: it demonstrates our consistency. »
With 46 points on the board, the American team approaches the upcoming events with full confidence, as Ayao Komatsu also explained. “I can’t wait to go to Brazil, another Sprint weekend, and try to get another double points finish.” A positive momentum that Haas hopes to continue this week at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
