Guenther Steiner and Haas ‘cautiously optimistic’ after their first factors of the season

It didn’t occur till the closing moments, however Kevin Magnussen finally fought his well beyond the AlphaTauri of Yuki Tsunoda late within the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, pushing the Haas into tenth place.

Giving the group their first factors of the 2023 System 1 season.

“First level this season. We had the pace however didn’t luck into it as some folks had been in a greater place after the protection automobile, however the drivers fought exhausting, and we bought some extent,” mentioned Staff Principal Guenther Steiner after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. “The entire group carried out flawlessly all weekend, they saved their heads up and everybody simply saved on pushing. That’s what we’re going to be doing all season lengthy and I’m actually wanting ahead to going to Australia now.”

Shortly after Lance Stroll’s on-track failure introduced out the protection automobile, the Haas duo of Magnussen and teammate Nico Hülkenberg had been in a position to pit, and put themselves in place to cost for factors. By Lap 25, the duo had been working in P11 and P12, with Magnussen simply in entrance of his teammate.

Hülkenberg would finally fade a bit, settling to stay in P12 by the checkered flag, however Magnussen then engaged in a prolonged battle with Tsunoda for tenth place. At one level Magnussen tried to get across the AlphaTauri on the skin, however was pressured to lock-up his proper entrance, and slid again from Tsunoda.

Nonetheless, Magnussen saved charging, and eventually labored his manner round Tsunoda on Lap 46.

“We had been in a position to have race, get begin, handle the tires effectively – particularly on the exhausting compound once I was on older tires than Tsunoda and truly had much less degradation,” mentioned Magnussen after the race. “I used to be then in a position to get previous him on the finish, and we managed to get some extent.”

Though Hülkenberg completed out of the factors, he got here away from the Grand Prix assured within the group shifting forward. “It was eventful. It’s at all times an enormous problem right here on this observe and it was tight. On one hand I’m dissatisfied I missed out on some extent, however then again I’m very happy that I accomplished the race and we’ve discovered lots,” outlined Hülkenberg after the Grand Prix. “The underlying constructive information is that we’re aggressive. It was tough to evaluate in Bahrain with injury, however right here at present we’re undoubtedly aggressive within the midfield and that makes me blissful.”

The group now turns their consideration to the Australian Grand Prix in the beginning of April, and Steiner is hopeful. As I mentioned after Bahrain, I didn’t actually know the place we had been with the automobile, however we now know the place we predict we’re,” mentioned the Haas Staff Principal. “We’re within the combine, we’re truly fairly good I believe – it’s all coming collectively. We didn’t panic after Bahrain – now we’re cautiously optimistic.”