F1
Why does Haas have such a small pit wall in Bahrain?
The tiny pit wall of the Haas team brought smiles during winter testing in Bahrain © Haas F1 Team
It's one of the images that made you smile, but also intrigued the circus of Formula 1 in Bahrain. For pre-season testing, the team Haas has installed a pit wall of very reduced proportions on the Sakhir circuit.
When the other teams arrived with their traditional low wall – made up of at least six positions for engineers and directors – the American team arrived with a small wall of only three positions. One for Günther Steiner, the team director, and two for the racing engineers of the two drivers.
On Twitter, Haas was amused by the interest in its pit wall: “Don’t judge us. It's definitely a little colder here this year than usual. »
Don't judge. It's definitely a little bit colder here this year than it normally is 😉😅# HaasF1 #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/yHWieIaNJr
— MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) February 24, 2023
A significant saving for Haas
But then, why this choice so intriguing on the part of Haas? The reason seems rather pragmatic, to hear the explanations given by Günther Steiner. “Would you [prefer] to have six people out or a $250 on upgrades to the car?, declared the Italian director in Sakhir. The guys had this idea. With three seats we can cover what we need to cover and we reorganize ourselves. It is above all a saving to put this money into development because we are reaching the budgetary ceiling. The only way to be faster is development, so we try to free up as much money as possible for development and not spend it on 'perches'."
In anticipation of a record season in terms of the number of Grands Prix, with 23 races on the 2023 calendar, Haas is therefore trying to find all possible savings. For the first time in its young history, the American team will be able to play on equal terms with its opponents, thanks to the budget ceiling but also thanks to the arrival of a title sponsor, MoneyGram. The arrival of this significant financial windfall could allow the Banbury structure to climb the hierarchy. The development of the car still needs to follow the right direction, something that Haas has not accustomed us to in recent seasons.
ALSO READ > Why Alpine has not yet shown herself in Bahrain
Dorian Grangier
A young journalist nostalgic for the motorsport of yesteryear. Raised on the exploits of Sébastien Loeb and Fernando Alonso.
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