2018 Formula 1 Season – Haas F1 Fan Journal

2018 Singapore Grand Prix Race Final

The Haas F1 team did not score points in the Singapore Grand Prix.

The race weekend started somewhat optimistic as Romain Grosjean was able to maintain good pace all weekend. He had strong practice sessions. He was able to qualify in the 8th starting position, and was in a strong position to deliver more points for Gene Haas. This was a good starting position and fans were optimistic.

Grosjean’s race ended when he had to pit for new tires after his 15^th lap of the race. He re-entered the race in 18^th position. At one point Grosjean did hold 12th place, but by the end he would finish a disappointing 15th position.

Kevin Magnusson had a bad weekend from the start. He never made it out of the first qualifying session and started 16th on the grid. Magnussen languished and finish the race in 18th position. A late race pit stop found Magnuson on a new set of super soft tires and a light flow load. Magnuson was able to clock in the fastest lap of the race on lap 50 with a 1:41:905. The fastest lap was completely inconsequential and evidence of the fact that the Haas strategy was not as effective as they would have liked. It was too little too late for Kevin.

The post-race interview with Magnuson found him befuddled and Confused. When asked by the reporter what happened to his race weekend Magnussen had no response. You could tell that he was just completely stymied by the whole situation and he could not find pace in Singapore.

Next on the Formula 1 schedule is the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi. Last year Kevin magnussen finished 13th Romain Grosjean crashed on the opening lap with the Renault of Jolyon Palmer. Our expectations for the 2018 Russian Grand Prix are much higher. Haas F1 fans expect both cars to score points. The Haas F1 Fan tribal song… #BeatRenault

See you in Sochi.

2018 Italian Grand Prix

Expectations at the Italian Grand Prix for the Haas F1 Team we’re probably as high as they have ever been in the team’s history. The Haas team was strong going into Monza. They are competing for that coveted fourth position in the F1 Constructors Championship standings, otherwise known as “the best of the rest”. Meaning, 4th place after Mercedes, Ferrari and Redbull fight for the top three spots. A fourth-place Constructors finish is definitely within reach for the Haas F1 team, and would be a formidable achievement.

Romain Grosjean showed very good pace in qualifying and placed 6th starting grid. Kevin Magnussen ran into some problems during qualifying and did not make it to the third the second qualifying session. KMags started in in the 11th position. This is the first time in the last four races that both Haas cars did not reach the third qualifying round. Magnussed was visible disappointed with his qualifying performance.

Things did not improve for Kevin Magnussen. KMags dropped 2th position bfore the end of the first turn. As the field filtered through turn one they and tried to avoid the spinning Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel. Vettel was tagged by Lewis Hamiltom and Vettel was the loser. Vettel was spun off of the track and had to rejoin the racing line after the traffic passed. Magnussen exited turn 1 in 12th position. Four laps later he was forced to make a pit stop for four new tires due to contact with the Force India of Sergio Perez. Magnussen emerged in 19th position in his Haas VF18 challenger and would never recover. He finished in 17th place, ahead of only the DNF’s of both Alonso and Ricciardo.

Romain Grosjean was very competitive and ran a strong race. He was able to hold his 6th position throughout the race and finished in 6th place. His eight points are very helpful for the Haas F1 Team competition for the Constructors Championship with Renault F1. Both teams we’re at 84 points. Yes I said where.

Following the race Renault F1 file a complaint against the Haas F1 Team. They (Renault) claimed that the Haas floor board was not legal and did not comply with the new specification. Renault won their complaint and the Haas F1 Team was stripped of it’s 8 race points for the Italian Grand Prix due to an illegal floor board. Renault is not my favorite team right now.. Haas is just going to have to kick their butt again and again and again.

The Italian Grand Prix was a great win for AMG Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton. Max Verstappen finished fifth ahead of Grosjean. The tifosi were broken after Vettel’s pirouette in turn one of lap one sent him spinning off to the back of the pack, but the German was able to pilot his Ferrari back to 4th Place. Valtteri bottas finish third. Kimi Raikkonen appeared on his 100th Formula 1 podium with that second place finish. All of that while Lewis Hamilton scored his 68th Formula 1 championship race win. “Get in there Lewis…”

But for the Haas team, they’ve got some work to do. The victory over Renault F1 will be all the more sweet. See you in Singapore

2018 French Grand Prix

The Haas F1 cars of Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean locked out row 5 to start the French Grand Prix in 9th and 10 positions.

It was the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel starting in 5th position which started the trouble in turn 1. Vettel ran into the back of the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas, damaging Vettel’s front wing and puncturing Bottas’s rear tire. Further back, in turn 3, the Force India of Esteban Ocon was taken out when Pierre Gasley lost control of his Toro Rosso, eliminating the two Frenchmen on the first lap of their home grand prix. By the end of lap 1, Kevin Magnussen ended up in the 5th position and Grosjean 8th.

Romain Grosjean would end up getting blamed for the incident, and receive a 5 second penalty for causing the incident with Ocon and Gasley. So one Frenchman took out the other two Frenchman in the first lap of the French Grand Prix race. We must question Grosjean’s on track antics some time. How much longer does Haas keep this guy? I digress…

It was lap 20 when the Mercedes Silver Arrow of Valtteri Bottas recovered from last place, to pass Romain Grosjean, dropping Grosjean to 11th position. Magnussen pitted in lap 29, and returned to the track in 13th position. Grosjean pitted on lap 35 from 8th position, and returned to the grid in last place, 17th.

A full course caution on lap 48 caused by a blown tire on the Williams of Lance Stroll caused the race to finish under yellow. Kevin Magnussen was able to hold off the attack of Bottas and finish the race in P6. Grosjean finished 11th.

Lewis Hamilton would lead every lap and win the race. Kimi Raikkonen finished second in his Ferrari, and max Verstappen third in his RedBull.

Next, we are on to the Redbullring for the Austrian Grand Prix!!!

2018 Monaco Grand Prix

The Haas F1 Team is ins a bit of a slump, and it continued with the Monaco Grand Prix. Haas had two cars in the points last year when Grosjean/Magnussen finished 8th/10th, but they would see no such fortune in 2018.

Grosjean/Magnussen started at the back of the pack 18th/19th. The only car to start behind them was the Redbull of Max Verstappen due to an engine swap. Verstappen passed both Haas cars before they entered turn 1 and the rest was… all about just finishing the race, which they did. They Finished Magnussen/Grosjean 13th/15th…

It was only attrition in front of them which moved them up. But when you are the last two cars on the grid there is only one direction to move.

Daniel Ricciardo was the pole winner and race winner. It was a good day to sell Haas Automation equipment….

Oh Canada…. It can only get better!

2018 Spanish Grand Prix

Don’t blink… if you missed the first lap of the Spanish Grand Prix, you missed most of the action. Grosjean decided to pull a Sponge Bob and floored it when he tried to recover from a spin in about turn 5 and floored it. Grosjean spun into the oncoming Renault of Nico Hulkenberg and the Toro Rosso of Pierre Gasley. Grosjean was out before lap 1 was complete.

Kevin Magnussen Started the race in 7th position and held that position until the 25th lap of the race. Magnussen stopped once, on lap 33. It was the retirement of the Ferrari driven by Kimi Raikkonen which retired, and Kevin Magnussen moved up to the 6th position, which is where he finished, and scored 8 championship points.

The race was not very exciting, and there was not much on track racing.

The Monaco Grand Prix is Next!!!!

2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

There are many things which can be said about the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and many things which cannot. The race was fairly eventual, and the track has proven to be fairly competitive with its narrow passage ways and ultra smooth surfaces. But the event was not very well attended. It appears if the race is held in a ghost town. The entire race course is rife with empty overlooking balconies, and stark city scapes. There were some bleachers setup around the track, and only the most prime seats were taken. There was a croud of about 150 to 200 fans around the final race winning prize podium. There were actual echos in the empty streets ….

Lewis Hamilton easily won the race when his teammate Valtteri Bottas was retired from the race after a blow out. Daniel Ricciardo ran his Red Bull into his teammate Max Verstappen. As Ricciardo attempted to pass his teammate, Max mad two moves, to the right, then to the left. Ricciardo was taking too much speed into the corner and the second block by Max caused fireworks.

This was lap 40, and the safety car was deployed. At this time Romain Grosjean was running in a strong 6th position after pitting under caution. It was lap 43, while still under caution that Grosjean spun out, and crashed. This occurred before Bottas retired from the race, so it was realistic for Grosjean to finish 5th and score 10 points for the Haas squad.

Kevin Magnussen started the race 15th, and finished 13th. Nothing to see here…

Of note, Sergio Perez finished third for Force India, behind the Ferrari of Vettel.

What a boring race, and proof that the FIA will have a race anywhere on the planet for the right price.

Next… To the Continent, Espana’ The Spanish Grand Prix!

2018 Chinese Grand Prix

Hopes high for the Haas F1 Team….

The Haas boys Grosjean and Magnussen qualified in positions 10th and 11th respectively for the Chinese Grand Prix. By the end of the first lap they each moved up one place to 9th and 10th after Sergio Perez in his Force India lost 6 positions on his first lap and dropped from 8th to 14th.

It was lap 6 that the Haas Team orders came into play and Grosjean let his teammate pass. Grosjean was not happy. But 10 lap later Grosjean would pit, as he was on a 3 pit strategy while Magnussen was on a 2 stop strategy.. Throughout the race Kevin Magnussen managed to hold just within the top 10, as high as 8 throughout the middle of the race.

Magnussen would hold onto a single point in the 10th position, while Grosjean ended the race in 17th.

But perhaps the most spectatular aspet of thee race came in lap 31 when the two Toro Rosso cars hit each other and caused a safety car. Kevin Magnussen was able to sneak in and pit under yellow. This would save his points position. But more importatly to the race, both Red Bulls pitted in a stacked way, one right after the other. Verstappen’s Red Bull was in P4, and Riccardo P6 in his. Between them was the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen. ionen

Raikkonen was the first to fall and the Red Bulls were up to P4 and 5 respectively. One lap later on lap 39 Verstappen tried to pass the P3 car of Lewis Hamilton. But the pass was an ill attempt at a narrow gap which Lewis quickly closed. As a result Ricciardo was able to pass hiss teammate and begin chasing down Hamilton in his Mercedes. And by lap 40 Ricciardo was past the Silver Arrow. By lap 42 it was Max Verstappen to make it a one two punch for Red Bull on the four time Champion of Mercedes. And by the end of the 42 lap Daniel Ricciardo picked off the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel.

It was lap 43 when Verstappen tried to pass the Ferrari of Vettel, they touched and both cars spun. Vettel’s run was over and Vettel would restart in 7th.

But it was lap 44 when Daniel Ricciardo passed Valtteri Bottas and took the race lead.

The decision of Red Bull to pit both cars on lap 33 was the winning move of the day. The Red Bulls were able to take full advantage of the new tires and dominate the competition. Verstappen was able to finally pass Hamilton on lap 48, to finish 4th.

1st, Ricciardo – Red Bull
2nd, Bottas – Mercedes
3rd, Raikkonen – Ferrari

Shoeys for everyone!!!

Next… Azerbaijan!

2018 Bahrain Grand Prix

It was Romain Grosjean who said “this is a win guys” after finishing 5 in the Bahrain Grand Prix, two years ago. And today it was his teammate kevin Magnessun who again matched Grosjean’s performance with today’s 2018 bahrain grand Prix.

Kevin Magnussed would qualify on the third row in the 6th position, and finish the race in 5th. Magnussen was relentless on track today. He upset Nico Kulkenberg around lap 9 when Magnusses forced the german in the Renaulkt off of the racing line, and onnto the part of the track covered is grass. As Magnusseson asserted himself on track I could hear him utter that familiar phrase from last years Hungarian Grand Prix.

For The Haas F1 Team is was first blood. Romain Grosjean would finish the race in P13. The 10 points for Magnussen is more than 1/3 of the total 29 points for Haas in 2016, and more than 1/5th of the 47 they scored in 2017. Once Romain Grosjean finds his groove, we will be seeing both Haas cars scoring points and fighting upstream forr more points, from the bigger teams.

So despite the disappointing start of the 2018 season, The Haas F1 Team has bounced back…

See you in China!

2018 Australian Grand Prix

The Haas F1 Team was fast throughout the entire Australian Grand Prix Weekend. The two Haas cars of Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean qualified in the sixth and seventh positions respectively. The fifth place qualifying Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo was penalized three starting grid positions for failure to slow down during a red flag in practice. This penalty for Riccardo moved both Haas cars up a spot and allowed the team to lock up the third row, the best starting positions for the team ever.
Magnussen had a fantastic start to the race and beat the fourth place Red Bull of Max Verstappen into turn 1 and immediately assumed P4. And by the end of the first two turns the Haas cars were in Positions 4 and 6. The Red Bull of Verstappen was sandwiched between the two Haas cars in P5 when during lap 10 the Red Bull spun out and Grosjean moved up into P5. The two Haas cars were running 4th and 5th by lap 11.
The spin by Verstappen put him back to P8 with Hulkenberg in his Renault in P7, Riccardo’s Red Bull P6, Grosjean’s Haas in P5 and his teammate Kevin Magnussen in P4. The 2018 season was off to a fantastic start for the third year American outfit until…
It was lap 23 when disaster first struck. Magnussen was the first to pit for Haas and returned to the running in P11 when he was forced to take his VF-18 onto the side of the track and retire the car. The left rear wheel of Magnussen’s car did not lock into position properly and the wheel not fouled. The Number 20 car of Kevin Magnussen was forced to retire with a loose wheel nut.
Then it was lap 25 when it happened again, Romain Grosjean was forced to retire with a loose left rear tire after his pit stop. Within three minutes time both Haas F1 Team cars were out of the Australian Grand Prix.
This result was a bitter pill to swallow for Haas F1 Fans. The team was vying for a potential podium and within a three-minute period the race was over for both cars. A 4th and 5th place finish would have rewarded the team 12 and 10 points; 22 points total. This is nearly half of the entire 2017 season points total of 49. But at the end of the day they earned zero points.
Expectations for the Haas team were high after the strong lap times in practice. But no one expected them to be the number four team, and leading the likes of McLaren, Renault, Williams or Force India, but they have. The team has improved their car, and they appear to have outpaced their nearest competitors. But the challenge which Haas faces is their capacity as a team. They have designed a car which can compete near the front. But they are still a small team with a single financier. The team lacked the capacity to expand to their new performance level, and the pit stop performances proved to be their weakest link.
Perhaps it is a cliché but, something had to give. Being a small team they lack the capacity to grow too quickly, and pit crew training suffered. The entire wheel must first be squarely mounted on the hub before the single wheel nut is tightened by the gunner. The case with both Haas cars was that the wheel was not squarely mounted on the hub before being tightened. Even with the wheel ajar, the wheel nut locked and there was no threat of either of the two mis-mounted wheels coming off. But both instances represent a unnsafe release of the car and we can expect penalties for the team. One thing we can be sure of, the Haas pit teams will be working on their pit stop training.
This picture of Romain Grosjean by @H_DeFormula was the take away image for the race.

To see Grosjean consulting a team member after the pit failure spoke volumes about Grosjean and the culture within the team. Grosjean knows that he will need that guy, and everyone else on the team, if he, Grosjean is to be successful. It was an endearing image and provided a silver lining of sorts. This is a fast team that made two crucial mistakes on their first pit stops. And Grosjean has already moved on.
For the Haas F1 Fans… we are disappointed. But we are also optimistic. The Haas cars are fast and this team is going to have a very competitive year. Competitors at McLaren and Renault have questioned the designs legality of the Haas car, calling it a “Baby Ferrari”. The situation was reviewed by F1 stewards. Those accusations were thrown out, and proved that the 2018 Haas F1 VF-18 Challenger is just very fast. We are in store for a great season…
Let’s call the Australian Grand Prix the Mulligan for the 2018 season. If they can maintain this performance throughout the year we can expect my double points races and perhaps the first Haas podium. Bring on Bahrain!!!

2018 Season Opening Comments….

The lights will go green in a few hours, and the Formula 1 season will be under way.

Some things have changed in Formula 1 since last season. First and foremost was the elimination of grid girls. We will no longer see these beautiful women in and around the F1 paddock. Personally, I’ll miss them and feel it is hypocritical to fire someone because you believe it is in their best interest. Call it a new F1 moral code.

Another change, which is perhaps more obvious to others is the addition of the halo protection system. This controversial change has got many F1 pundits and participants at odds with the governing body. The device was first described by someone to look like a flip flop. The story has taken off and flop flop sponsors have been secured.

Pirelli has added two additional rubber compounds to the series options. There are now nine different tire compounds in the Pirelli stable. I strongly recommend printing out a Pirelli color reference chart so you can remember the tire nomenclature and color codes.

The US broadcast rights for Formula 1 have moved from NBC to ESPN, an all sports network. The televised broadcast will be siphoned off of the UK based Sky Network feed. So we are meeting and learning about a whole new broadcast crew. That process has been… interesting to say the least. But that is a topic for another article.

But perhaps the most significant change from last year is the improved performance of the Haas Formula 1 team. The Haas VF-18 challenger has so far proven superior to the the rivals of McLaren, Williams, Renault, Force India, Toro-Rosso and Sauber. Consistently throughout testing and now up to qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix, the Haas has been the hot car. It was just two short years ago that David Richards and Gary Anderson stated that Gene Haas was in for a “rude awakening”. Well there has been an awakening…. and it was not Gene Haas that was asleep.

2018 prospects are bright for the Haas team, and it’s fans. Kevin Magnussen Is starting 5th and Romain Grosjean lines up next to him in 6th. A three grid spot penalty for Daniel Riccardo’s caution flag violation and a third round qualifying shunt by Valtteri Bottas has put both drivers behind the Haas boys.

For the first time ever, the Haas F1 Team has a legitimate shot at earning a podium finish. They scored points in their very first race when Grosjean finished in 6th position 2016 Australian Grand Prix. At the time he said “this is like a win for us “. Two years later that winning expectation has taken root, and they are starting the 2018 Australian Grand Prix with fewer cars in front of them with their sights on a podium… Fantastic, Game On!