October 2016 – Haas F1 Fan Journal

2016 Grand Prix of Mexico

Esteban Gutierrez was front and center for his first home grand prix as a Haas F1 Driver. Bot eht team and crowd were filled with the anticipation of A Mexican driver racing in his home country.

Expectations were kept within reason as the Haas driver started from the 17th position on the grill. His teammate Romain Grosjean was forced to start the race from pit lane after his car required a new floor board after qualifying.

The excitement for the Haas fans was short lived. Romain Grosjean complained all day about his lack of grip and braking problems and finished 20th. Gutierrez was able to beat his teammate and finished in P19.

The Haas F1 Team may not have fared well against their competitors, but there was a bright spot for the team. It was the 12th race of 19 races where both cars finished the race. For a first time team this is important, and a reason for optimism.

Lewis Hamilton won the race for Mercedes. It was Hamilton’s 51’s career F1 victory, and he is now tied with Alain Prost on the all-time win board. The only other driver with more wins than Prost and Hamilton is Michael Schumacher, with 91 victories. Matching the win count to Prost is a formidable achievement. The next 40 victories will be more difficult to achieve for Lewis. But for today, Hamilton has achieved a true milestone in his career.

There are just two races remaining in this 2016 season. The Haas team holds 29 points and has a secure hold on 8th position in the constructors championship. Torro_Rosso is sitting in 7th for the constructors championship, and secure at 69 points. In 9th position is the Renault F1 team with only 8 points. So it is safe to say that the Haas F1 Team will finish 8th for the 2016 F1 season. Not too shabby. Each race is an entirely new experience for the Haas Team. The team lacks prior performance data to compare the car to. With each year the team will build upon it’s experience. But getting to the end of the first season may be more pain than gain.

Bring on Brazil!!!

2016 United States Grand Prix

The 2016 United States Grand Prix what’s the first home race for the Haas F1 Team, and fans were excited. There were record crowds on hand at Circuit of the Americas. And it was obvious that America was glad to have a Formula 1 team again.

So the Haas Team went into to qualifying with hot very high hopes, especially after their best ever qualifying session in Japan just two weeks previously. But as it would work out it was not a very good qualifying session for the team. Grosjean did not advance out of the first qualifying session and started 17th on the grid. His Junior root teammate, Esteban Gutierrez, made it into Q2 and started 14th on the grid.

Both Haas cars had a very good race start. By the end of the first lap Grosjean have moved up from 17th to 14th Place. And Gutierrez worked his way up to 10th from 14th.

After two pit stops Grosjean had worked his way up to 12th place. Gutierrez would retire from the race because of brake failures. It was a very disappointing to watch, especially considering what a good race he was running.

With mechanical failures, front runners Max Verstappen in his Red Bull and Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari would not finish the race. This moved Romain Grosjean up to 10 place, which is where he finished the race. Grosjean earned the Haas team a single first home Grand Prix for that 10th place finish. It was an extremely positive an exciting day for the team and their fans.

Next next week we are on to Mexico for the home Grand Prix of Esteban Gutierrez. Things are looking up for the Haas F1 team. We’ll see you in Mexico

2016 Japanese Grand Prix

After a terrible showing at the Malaysian Grand Prix Haas was looking for a performance they could build on going into Japan. The weekend started strong with optimism as both hot cars made it into the third qualifying round. Romain grosjean qualified seventh on the grid and s-bahn Gutierrez started 10th. Nico rosberg took pole in his Mercedes Silver Arrow and his teammate Lewis Hamilton started in P2

Hopes faded quickly for the husk Squad asgrow Jean lost two positions in the first lap. By the 10th lap and after the first series of pit stops, grosjean had dropped the 14th position and Gutierrez 20th. Groshong was able to fight back and finish 11th but Gutierrez would finish the race in 20th position.

But the team again was able to finish and that is perhaps the positive take away. Liability will carry this team long into the future. I’m finishing this race after the retirements in Malaysia cuz a good sign.

Next it’s off to Texas for the first home Grand Prix of the new Haas team. United States Grand Prix is next and the house fans will be there in force. See you in Texas

2016 Malaysian Grand Prix – Race Final

Haas fans were optimistic going into to the Malaysian Grand Prix. Haas F1 teammates remind groshan and Esteban Gutierrez qualified 12th and 13th respectively. The 7 race trout of not scoring points has left the American team rather stagnant and in need of encouragement.

Encouragement would not come this race weekend. Gutierrez got a puncture on his front tire at the first turn of the race start when the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel and tge Mercedes Nico rosberg got into a scrap fighting for position. Gutierrez is the car that got hurt and put him in last place, 20th position.

Romain Grosjean’s race ended on lap 9 when he experienced complete brake failure at turned 15. This car was safely captured by the gravel but his race was done.

For Esteban Gutierrez, his race ended one lap 41 when his left front tire came off of his car. There was no explanation as to why this happened happened. For the Haas Team it’s another race with no points.

Japanese Grand Prix is next. The Suzuki track is one of the most exciting in the world. Because it has that cross over it’s technically a Figure 8. Just like the race set we got as kids for Christmas. Until Japan, sayonara!