F1 News: Guenther Steiner Reveals Reason Behind Driver Disagreement Over Vegas Grand Prix Setups

Haas F1 Team has adopted unique strategies for their drivers’ cars in Las Vegas, focusing on driver preference and addressing ongoing tyre challenges.

Haas F1 Team drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen have chosen differing aero packages for the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix. Team Principal Guenther Steiner explained the reason behind this, citing each driver's preference over their car setups.

Key Takeaways:

• Divergent Strategies: Haas F1 Team's decision to run different specifications for Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen at the Las Vegas GP stems from the drivers' individual preferences. Hulkenberg prefers the old spec, while Magnussen has chosen the newer COTA-spec package.
• Focus on Driver Comfort: Guenther Steiner, the team principal, highlighted that the decision wasn't about data collection but about ensuring driver comfort. With two races left and nothing to lose, Haas aims to cater to what each driver feels works best for them.
• Ongoing Tire Challenges: Despite the upgrades received at the United States Grand Prix, both Haas cars continue to struggle with tire-related issues. Steiner acknowledged the challenges and outlined the team's approach to addressing tire overheating and the sliding problem for the 2024 season.

The Haas F1 Team, under the leadership of Guenther Steiner, is taking an unconventional route for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. With the team's performance having improved significantly since the upgrade package was introduced at the United States Grand Prix, the focus has shifted to maximising driver satisfaction and comfort in the remaining races.

Steiner explained:

“The main drive behind this was Nico feels that for him the old spec suits him better, and Kevin is the opposite. We’ve opted to give them what they want, we have two races to go and nothing to lose, so we’ve tried to do what we can. 

"We could discuss gathering data, but we’ve got enough data, it’s a decision based on what each driver likes more than anything else. It puts them in a comfortable position so that they’re as happy as they can be with the car they get.”

Despite the performance boost, the team continues to battle tyre-related issues, which have been a significant limiting factor in their recent races. Steiner elaborated on the challenges of the upcoming midnight street race, particularly the low temperatures and their impact on tire performance:

 "We're learning what doesn't work, but I think we need to fix it… We know what we need on the aero. But we still need to make it, obviously… For next year, we will cure this, we'll learn about the cooling of the rims, and all that stuff."

As the Haas team prepares for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the focus remains on overcoming the tyre challenges that have hampered their performance in recent races.