Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner says that he is “getting very careful” with making predictions over the pecking order in Formula 1’s midfield due to its competitive nature.
Different teams have emerged as ‘best of the rest’ in 2017 – behind Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull – with Haas enjoying a strong run in Austria, before Renault emerged to lead the pack in Britain.
Force India, which holds fourth in the standings, has also pulled off several top results, while Williams and Toro Rosso have also spearheaded the midfield charge at various stages.
“I’m getting very careful with predicting anything as from track to track it’s temperature, track surface, how the track layout is, how it all comes together, and how you can get tyres to work,” Steiner said of the varying influencing factors.
“It’s always something different, so very careful to say ‘this is a good track for us’ and then we’re completely out of luck.
“The other thing is that as it’s so tight in the midfield, even if we’re as good as we were in Austria, someone could do a better job and get their car more settled in the circumstances.
“All of a sudden you’re behind, so if we’re as good as we were in Austria, but the others are a lot better than you… so I’ll wait until Friday night before a conclusion.
“I learnt this year it’s so over the place not only for us but a lot of other people, look at the Renault, in Austria they were nowhere and in Silverstone they were flying.”
Brakes have been a key component in Haas’ campaign, with Romain Grosjean in particular sensitive to the feel and material, having run Brembo and Carbon Industrie.
Steiner confirmed that Haas’ plan is to replicate its Silverstone approach, with Grosjean using Carbon Industrie, while Kevin Magnussen and FP1 stand-in Antonio Giovinazzi on Brembos.
“The brake update of Hungaroring 2017,” joked Steiner. “One guy on Brembo, one guy on CI, the same as last week.
“Romain is on CI, starting tomorrow, Kevin – and Antonio – are on Brembo, we keep that car on Brembo and the other one on CI.”
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