Motorsport Week continues its annual team-by-team review and ratings. Today we take a look at America's finest, Haas, along with drivers Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen.
Haas’ VF-18 caught the eye during pre-season testing and it was duly a firm midfield contender from the outset – and unlike in previous seasons it remained a force to be reckoned with throughout the entirety of the campaign. Haas benefited from Ferrari’s engine gains and a stance of evolution rather than revolution, leading to its surge from eighth to fifth in the standings. It had more missed opportunities than its rivals while it is still learning lessons, a natural state of affairs for such a young team. The big question is where it can go next without major investment.
If they were a football team they’d be: Wolves. Feisty. Unafraid. Slightly dubious affiliations with a rival.
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Best Race: Austria was what Australia should have been. |  |
Worst Race: See left, but reversed. |
Grosjean must have kicked a black cat under a ladder early in 2018 as everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Setbacks, mechanical issues and two massive blunders cost him a hatful of points and it is to his credit that he evaluated and assessed his predicament to return stronger mid-season. Austria was a high watermark results-wise but he was also outstanding in Germany and Italy, only a mis-timed VSC cost him ‘midfield victory’ in Japan, while his Q3 lap in Abu Dhabi was superb. The rough comes with the smooth for Grosjean, but a little less of the former and some more of the latter would be a fine target for 2019.
Where to improve: He knows – he’s a thoroughly intelligent chap. Bring the mindset he brought to Germany to each of the 21 GPs, and sometimes rein in the aggression.
Surprising Stat: 14th equalled Grosjean’s worst full-season classification – though he scored 37 points compared to 8 in 2014.
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Best Race: Very strong in Italy, pre-DQ for an illegal part that had no performance gain. | |
Worst Race: First-lap Spain error was more akin to an F4-level crash. |
Magnussen is one of Formula 1’s old-school characters who has clearly thrived by finally having more than a single year in one team. That stability meant he was a midfield contender from the outset, with a major crucial gain coming in qualifying – he reached Q3 10 times (still six fewer than Grosjean), but that was 10 more times than in 2017. He still has the occasional tendency to step over the line in racing – his move on Gasly in Baku was not acceptable – and reining that in will prove beneficial in the long run. Given Magnussen’s qualities, and Haas’ approach, the parties are perfect for each other.
Where to improve: Stability and Haas’ old-school environment has allowed him to flourish. But not putting rivals in the wall at high-speed would be a positive development.
Surprising Stat: Magnussen’s 2018 tally was double that of his 2016/17 amount combined.
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Best Race: Several fine drives – France was solid. | |
Worst Race: Germany. He could have been P5 but a strategy error cost him dearly. |
