Haas expect “no magic” from Mexican altitude

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has conceded testing high altitude conditions in Mexico are unlikely to catapult the American-owned team up the Formula 1 pecking order this weekend.

Haas has been rooted to the foot of the standings this year and is the only team yet to register a point after deciding to focus all its resource on the regulation changes that will take effect next season.

Despite Mick Schumacher reaching Q2 for the second time this season in Turkey, Steiner is not expecting a repeat performance on Saturday.

Asked if there were any early indications the conditions would play to the strengths of the VF-21, Steiner stated categorically, "No.

“The car is the same it has been since the beginning of the year as you all know and I don’t think there is any magic in the altitude for us.

“So it looks like that we can cool the car pretty normal so we have got enough space there not to overheat it.

“The proof, we will see across the weekend. Normally what you get here, it is difficult to cool the car at this altitude but there is no magic in the high altitude.”

Last time out in the United States, Nikita Mazepin reported his feet were burning during the race.

Questioned if the cause of the problem had been identified in the last two weeks, Steiner explained: “I actually need to ask the engineers but he gets it and we need to see what it is but he is getting always his feet very hot.

“I actually need to ask if they found something after the last race but I don’t have an answer.”

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