The Haas motorists hanging back and making early tire stops was a routine function of Sundays in 2015, and typically caused great grid positions going to waste.
The group focused its style efforts with the VF-24 on resolving the issue, and invested the majority of the Bahrain test focusing on long terms.
Regardless of an absence of low fuel experience, Nico Hulkenberg provided the group an increase by making Q3 and certifying 10th for the Bahrain GP.
The German’s Saturday night was messed up by a very first corner occurrence and a stop for a brand-new nose.
A strong drive from team-mate Kevin Magnussen to 12th, after beginning 15th on the grid, showed that Haas has actually significantly enhanced its race kind relative to in 2015.
Komatsu made it clear that the group has actually made development in spite of in 2015’s VF-23 advancement program jeopardizing deal with its follower.
“If someone informed me before we ran the automobile this year that we are defending points in race one, I would not anticipate that,” he stated when asked by Motorsport.com if he saw Magnussen’s outcome as an excellent result.
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-24
Picture by: Erik Junius
“I understand just how much gain we made from when we began developing this VF-24, however I understand we began late. I understand we picked up 2 months doing the Austin upgrade. That’s simply lost time, and we are behind?
“But I’ve got to presume, provided the very same quantity of time, everyone else’s advancement rate is at least as great as us. Since we are the tiniest group. That’s what I presumed.
“And then I saw something a bit various in screening, however I simply didn’t wish to rely on it. And after that obviously, we saw more on FP2. Once again, whatever was for today [the race]
“So even the other day our target was to get both cars and trucks in Q2, which we did. And Nico did what Nico is actually proficient at in Q2. Remarkable lap, in Q3 once again, however we didn’t run brand-new tire since we required brand-new tires for today.
“Unfortunately, his start wasn’t fantastic, and his race was over by Turn 1. As you can see from Kevin’s race, we can race this year now in the midfield. It’s simply there’s no margin. Whatever has to be ideal – which we didn’t entirely do today – so we can score points. Yeah, extremely favorable.”
While acknowledging that so far the group has actually just tested one location, Komatsu stated that the indications are motivating offered the nature of the Sakhir track.
“If anything, for me, this circuit exposes that weak point, so I was quite delighted,” he stated. “Okay, track temperature level is not as hot as a regular Bahrain race here. Still, midday throughout the t