Haas team principal Guenther Steiner says the team lacked pit stop practice at the season-opening race in Australia due to having "too much" work to do on the car, which led to a double retirement as both Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen were sent out with loose wheels.
The pair were fighting for fourth and fifth when, during their first stop, the wheel nut on Magnussen's left-rear became cross-threaded and the same on Grosjean's left-front, but both were sent out before the mistake was realised. Both retired on the spot.
With the problem not related to equipment or process, Steiner says the only way to ensure it doesn't happen again is through extra practice in Bahrain.
"As a team, we made mistakes," he said. "We had too much work to do on the car and didn’t practice enough. I think the key to all of this is to get the practice in before the race so that we’re prepared for all aspects of the race.
Asked what was needed to refocus the team following the heartbreak of Australia, Steiner added: "You just have to explain what happened and be honest about it. We made mistakes, but we do have processes in place.
"Last year, in the second half of the season, we had some of the best pit stops on pit lane. We can do it. I think the lack of practice produced the result in Australia. Nevertheless, stuff like this happens. You get over it and move on."
