Haas will use its F1 simulator alongside a GP for the first time

We had to wait until the last Grand Prix of the season but Haas will finally be able to include a simulator work program in its race weekend schedule. Gene Haas' team made it one of its areas of development in 2019 with the signing of Pietro Fittipaldi as test driver. 

Guenther Steiner specifies, however, that this is only a first test to ensure that all systems are working correctly.

« We will start using the simulator live this weekend, said the Italian manager. This will be a test run to check that everything is in place for next season. This won't help us on track immediately. It's a sort of dress rehearsal if you will. The primary goal is not to extract performance, just to validate the proper functioning of the device ». 

With the gradual reduction of private testing, simulator sessions have gained importance in recent years. Just look at the copious program that the reservist had to swallow Mercedes Esteban Ocon on all European Grand Prix weekends. 

Once Free Practice 2 concluded, the Norman jumped into the simulator in Brackley (United Kingdom) to help the German manufacturer optimize the settings of its car for qualifying and the race. 

Haas does not yet have its own equipment and relies on the Dallara simulator in Italy. Steiner acknowledges that his team would have liked to be able to use such a tool in live conditions earlier in the season but the reality on the ground forced Haas to be patient to make the necessary adjustments. 

« It took us longer than we initially wanted., continues the outspoken main team well known to lovers of F1. It's a complicated task and you don't realize how big it is until you tackle it. The other teams have 10-15 years of experience in this area. We were six months old. There is still work to improve the system but it is a first step ».