Average session for the Haas F1 Team: points in their sights despite everything?
Two weeks after Romain Grosjean's stunning qualifying session, the young American team returned to earth and the underbelly of the field, with 13th and 14th places. They'll have to raise their game if they hope to pick up a few points for the last race of the year...
Often at ease during Qualifying sessions, Romain Grosjean did not excel with his car this time. For the eighth time this season, he will start behind his teammate on the grid. He also returns to an average level, which has often seen him fail in Q2 this season.
Romain Grosjean → Q2: 14th (1:41.467 – 15 laps)
The Frenchman could not hide his skeptical pout in front of the journalists: « I’m disappointed with this qualifying session. Clearly, we hoped for a bit better. We had a lot of problems yesterday and we’re still hoping we’ve made the right choices. I would like to better understand the tires! »
Still plagued by brake issues this Friday, the former Lotus driver wasn’t able to truly test his machine ahead of the race’s long stints. As a result, number 8 was perplexed when discussing his future chances: « When we put everything in the right way, like in Brazil, we are fast. When that’s not the case, we’re around 14th or 15th place. For the race, I’m not really sure what to think. I haven’t done many long stints, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out. »
Esteban Gutierrez → Q2: 13th (1:41.480 – 16 laps)
The Mexican, on the other hand, reached the second part of the Qualifying for the 15th time this season. A discreet but good performance at the time of his last weekend with the American team: « It was a rather tricky day. Obviously, it was important to understand how the conditions would evolve and how much it would affect the balance of the car. »
Despite a small hiccup with Günther Steiner two weeks ago in Brazil during his retirement from the race, the atmosphere seems positive, even nostalgic, as the last race of the season approaches, perhaps the very last of his career. Will he finally manage to finish in the points?
« I am very grateful to the team for achieving such a result. My group of mechanics and engineers made the best efforts possible, even though it is an emotional weekend for everyone, given it is our last weekend together. They deserve my best, and I strive to give them my best focus, attitude, and performance. »
Great qualy from the whole team, I’m very happy to have given them my best performance! Looking forward to do the same tomorrow. #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/W0FoDA9n9v
— Esteban Gutierrez (@EstebanGtz) November 26, 2016
To conclude, the floor is given to the team principal. Günther Steiner hopes that his protégés will finish in the top 10 one last time in 2016: « It was an average day. We still managed to accomplish a decent session. It was better two weeks ago in Brazil, but we are still in a position to earn points tomorrow. That would be a nice way to end this first season all together. »
Obviously, the two Haas F1 Team drivers will have the sole objective of enjoying themselves at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The season has already been generally successful with 29 points on the board. The rookie team will thus leave three teams behind: Renault, Sauber, and Manor.
