We’ve had quite a day following qualifying. It turns out our boys Grosain and Guteriez is at the back on the 10th row in positions 19 and 40.
It is an odd coincidence that after 10 years te first change in qualifying occurs during the Haas F1 Team first race. As Haas fans we can find plenty of reason to be upset. Guteriez was on a Q2 qualifying flying lap when he times out and was eliminated. But this is all OK.
Having the Haas cars start at the back can give us an advantage. The goal in the first race is to finish. Two cars completing the race distance would mark a development milestone for the team. Turn 1 can be a bit fast in Melbourne. That right turn at Brabham can get real narrow as the track fades to a quick left bending turn. The flow of traffic can get narrow like a venturi. Starting from the back will allow the Haas cars to avoid any first lap excitement at turn 1.
In many ways, this is still testing for the Haas F1 Team. They still have not established a benchmark for the car. And there has been no basis to compare the drivers. This race will establish those things. We will see the performance of the VR-16’s improve as the fuel load lightens during the 58 lap race.
Bur for the fans… we are ecstatic. American F1 fans have never had a team for which they have a vested interest. The closest we came was Alexander Rossi’s 5 races with Manor last year. Realistically we need to wait for season 3 or a realistic chance to compete at the front. But my expectations are high.
I believe that Gene Haas has brought an entirely new dynamic to Formula 1. He is there because he LOVES RACING. In addition, he brings a certain credibility because he is the final decision maker in all things. Even Toto Wolf from Mercedes and Maurizio Arrivabene from Ferrari must answer to superiors. Gene Haas can act on anything he commits or chooses. this gives him an incredible psychological advantage over the other team principals that should not be under estimated. Everything I’m reading says that Gene Haas is also well liked by his peers and he’s been called a “true American” by those same guys in yesterdays press conference.
So tonight is more about pride. Pride for the accomplishment of being on the F1 grid and the manor in which Gene Haas got there. American pride is at an all time low. After years of loosing industrial manufacturing jobs to foreign outsourcing, Haas Automation is standing firm. And in today’s political climate, that is yet another distinction which is impossible to avoid.
As fans, it is an entirely new experience for us. American F1 fans are an after hours club of odd individuals that wake up all hours of the night for F1. We are rookie fans, and this is all new to us. The initial excitement will calm down one day, and a sense of normal will develope. But until then it’s piss and vinegar. And Gene Haas on TV with Will Buxton is nervous. He just wants to finish but he is smiling really big!
The worse thing i can do for any team or sport is to make a prediction. So I wont here… But my expectation is that the Haas F1 Team will have at least one car scoring points!
Game On!!! Go Haas F1 Team!!!
Richie OUT!