Ferrari engine a source of satisfaction for Haas

For its second season in the discipline, Haas F1 Team negotiated the new technical regulations well. With 343 laps on the clock of the VF17 shared between Kevin Magnussen et Romain Grosjean, the American structure was able to benefit from encouraging reliability, necessary to best adapt to the new single-seaters.

Reliability also present from an engine point of view, with a Power Unit Ferrari which received praise from Team Principal Günther Steiner. “This year we had very few problems, comments the manager. Compared to last year, it was much better. This is how it should be. Ferrari has done a very good job this year with the Power Unit. He was very reliable. »

After watching his teammate Kevin Magnussen during the first two days, Romain Grosjean sat in the seat of the VF17 for the last two days, including Thursday, which was partly contested on a wet track.

Enough to offer a first positive glimpse for the Frenchman, despite some technical problems on Wednesday, blocking Grosjean at 56 laps. “Typically these cars are going to be pretty cool to drive, very quick in the corners at high speed, taken very late under braking and able to maintain a bit of speed in the corners, which is good.

I think Pirelli has improved with the tires, the way you can attack for three laps in a row. » admitted the former Lotus driver on Wednesday.

For the second week of running, the alternation between Magnussen and Grosjean will this time be required, the Dane starting on March 7.

Find the full report of the first tests in Barcelona, ​​in issue 2104 of AUTOhebdo, available from Monday March 6 in digital version, and from Wednesday March 8 on newsstands. Our F1 AUTO Guidehebdo 2017 is also available in digital version and on newsstands.