Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global
Breaking news

Haas hopes Singapore struggles a one-off

Haas team boss Gunther Steiner is hoping his Formula 1 team's struggles during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend were just a one-off.

 Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team VF-17

Photo by: Andrew Hone / Motorsport Images

 Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team VF-17
 Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team VF-17, Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team VF-17
 Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team VF-17
Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team VF-17
Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team VF-17

Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen found it challenging to find a good balance on the low-speed, high-downforce Marina Bay street circuit.

It came after the team struggled on a similarly low-speed circuit in Hungary earlier this year, with Grosjean retiring and Magnussen finishing one lap down in 13th.

In Singapore, Grosjean and Magnussen qualified 15th and 16th respectively but took advantage of a chaotic race as with Grosjean scored points in ninth.

Magnussen ran just outside the top 10 before retiring with a electronics issue.

When asked by Motorsport.com if he was surprised by the American team's pace in Singapore, Steiner said: "It's these low-speed, high downforce tracks, it's very similar to our Hungary experience.

"I hope this was the last one and we can get more in the mix with the midfield, like we are normally. I hope it's the end of our struggles this year."

Though Grosjean scored two points, it was not enough to stop Renault leapfrogging Haas into seventh in the constructors' championship after Jolyon Palmer finished sixth.

"We ended up with points so it's a half-happy ending," said Steiner. "It could have been a lot worse. We didn't make any big mistakes. It's better than to go away with no points.

"You could say you just got points because people dropped out. Yeah, but you need to be there to get them. That's what I say."

Steiner praised his team's strategy, with Magnussen the first driver to pit for slick tyres as the track dried out.

"Our guys did nothing wrong the whole race long," he said. One of the good moves was when Kevin went onto dry tyres. It was a ballsy move but it worked out.

"Unfortunately, he had an electronics problem. We'll investigate that and why we had to shut it down."

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article F1 tests capability to give fans live race details in 360
Next article Hamilton: Mercedes won't fix weaknesses on 2017 F1 car

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global