Magnussen's lofty ambition for Haas upgrade revealed

Ewan Gale
Monday 18 July 2022 09:20

Kevin Magnussen believes Haas can take control at the top of F1's midfield pack if it nails its upgrade package.

The American team has yet to add to the VF-22 that started the year, opting to skip the traditional upgrade window at the start of the 'European season' and instead chasing an optimisation of set-up with its current car.

Despite this, the team scored two double points finishes in Great Britain and Austria, matching McLaren and Alpine for pace.

On the performance of the car without being upgraded, Magnussen said: “It is exciting, but you’ve got to be careful with these upgrades sometimes.

"The other teams don’t seem to have found so much with theirs and hopefully, we can find something with ours.

“But it’s not like I’m expecting a huge change in the picture. If you can make a slight step forward, that’s good.”

Haas upgrade can "put us in the front of midfield"

The upturn in form for Haas comes after a year in which neither Mick Schumacher nor former team-mate Nikita Mazepin were able to touch the rear of the midfield pack given the team's uncompetitiveness.

“No one knows what is possible, but certainly [in Austria] we were sort of the fourth-, fifth-fastest team," insisted Dane Magnussen.

“Certainly Alpine, McLaren and ourselves looked very strong in that midfield and if we can stick with them that is a massive jump for us.

“We are on par with them now and we don’t have an upgrade. So hopefully, when we get that upgrade, it can put us in front of that midfield.”