Haas in 2022: An unforgettable pole position

The transition to the new regulations seemed to have been successful for Haas. The returning Kevin Magnussen achieves an almost unexpected performance right from the first race in Bahrain, finishing in fifth place. The Danish driver does it again in Jeddah by scoring two more points.

The pace of the VF22 seems decent as it is faster than Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes and by not making any mistakes in qualifying, both drivers are capable of mixing it up in the midfield.

But, Haas remains Haas. Like in previous seasons, the development of the car is almost non-existent and the promising start of the season doesn’t continue. Apart from two good results in Great Britain and Austria, the American team remains at the back of the grid.

However, Kevin Magnussen will silence everyone by playing with the elements in Brazil. The Dane achieves Haas’ first pole position. The driver number 20 could hope for a good position in the race, but Daniel Ricciardo came to ruin the hopes.

Good reliability, despite Ferrari parts.

We know it, this year, Ferrari has not been a model of reliability. While these issues rather affected the team with the prancing horse and Alfa Romeo, Haas has been largely spared.

Only two engines went up in smoke. One for Magnussen and another one for Schumacher. Within the team, Kevin Magnussen is the one who was forced to retire the most (5 compared to 2), mainly due to mechanical issues. In addition to the engine, he suffered from a water leak and a wing problem. Additionally, two accidents should be added to that.

Mick Schumacher, on the other hand, did not reach the finish line on two occasions, in Monaco and Canada. In the streets of the principality, his single-seater was split in two after a violent collision at the swimming pool, and his engine failed in Montreal.

A bold strategy in Brazil

If Red Bull is the strategic master this year, Haas was able to seize an opportunity in Brazil. By going out early with soft tires in Q3 at Interlagos, K-Mag was the fastest before George Russell went off track and the rain made any further improvements impossible.

The overall assessment of the American team’s season is mixed. Despite a year without racing, Kevin Magnussen carried Haas, while Mick Schumacher fought but ultimately failed to succeed. The Danish driver’s experience paid off, and the mistakes and lack of rhythm from the German driver led Günther Steiner to not renew his contract in 2023.

However, it is important to note the progress of the Americans who scored 37 points in 2022. With new sponsors for the upcoming season, performance and development could be enhanced.