Haas crew principal Ayao Komatsu says there might be information in regards to the future driver line-up “quickly,” with two vacancies nonetheless to be stuffed for 2025.
The driving force market has slowed down in current months, with Nico Hulkenberg’s future transfer from Haas to Stake the final change introduced in Miami. Since then there’s been the affirmation of Sergio Perez, Yuki Tsunoda, Pierre Gasly and Lance Stroll all staying with their present groups, however with Hulkenberg to exchange and Kevin Magnussen out of contract, Komatsu says Haas will finalize no less than a kind of seats within the close to future.
“The choice shouldn’t be remodeled one race,” Komatsu informed SiriusXM about Magnussen’s future. “It’s remodeled the course of the season, or what he has been doing for us for the final two and a half seasons, or much more.
“After all there’s no complaints [in Austria]; his race was wonderful. His dash race was wonderful, his qualifying was sturdy, after which the race was nice. It’s an ideal consequence for Kevin in addition to the crew.”
With Oliver Bearman finishing up loads of FP1 operating for Haas and a heavy favourite for a drive in 2025, Magnussen is dealing with competitors from the likes of Esteban Ocon and Valtteri Bottas for his place. Pushed on when one of many seats might be introduced, Komatsu added: “You’ll discover out quickly!”
Magnussen scored factors in eighth place within the Austrian Grand Prix behind teammate Nico Hulkenberg in sixth, giving Haas its greatest return for the reason that identical occasion in 2022. Hulkenberg passing by Perez on the ultimate lap after which re-passing the Pink Bull driver, led Komatsu to confess it was a consequence past his hopes.
“Completely not sixth and eighth,” he mentioned. “Clearly our goal was at all times to attain with each vehicles, so ninth and tenth we had been going for. Truthfully, particularly with Nico holding off Perez in these closing moments on advantage, it was unbelievable. I’m so blissful for everybody within the crew.
“We knew that Perez was going to have two goes at it, due to course everyone listens to everybody else’s crew radios, proper? Nico was intelligent sufficient to know that was the chance out of Flip 3 and into Flip 4, so he simply judged it to perfection. Completely wonderful.
“You may see from the tempo within the final a part of the primary stint…that our tempo was just like Perez, so if [there was] related tire age, I knew we might battle. However…to be combating towards a Pink Bull, what extra are you able to ask for?
“I’m fairly blissful. The technique was good and communication was fairly good. We had that shut second after the primary spherical of pit stops the place Kevin overtook Nico and Nico locked up and once more we dealt with that very nicely. Straight afterwards we addressed it.
“Even after we had been caught behind Max’s automotive within the second stint, we had been a lap behind however we had been caught. Once more, Kevin got here nearer, however we mentioned, ‘No, you aren’t combating one another; simply take care of your tires.’ We simply labored as a crew very nicely and execution was good, communication was good. I’m simply so proud of this consequence for everybody within the crew.”
