Rich Energy Haas F1 Team Set for Preseason Tests
February 16, 2019
KANNAPOLIS, North Carolina (Feb. 16, 2019) – Rich Energy Haas F1 Team will head to Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya with a full roster of drivers set to take the wheel of the brand-new Haas VF-19 in the opening week of preseason testing, Feb. 18 to Feb. 21, prior to the start of the 2019 FIA Formula One World Championship.
Regular drivers Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen will be joined by test driver Pietro Fittipaldi in the first of two scheduled preseason test weeks at the 4.655-kilometer (2.892-mile), 16-turn track – home of the Spanish Grand Prix.
Grosjean will commence testing on Monday, Feb. 18, before Magnussen assumes responsibilities on Tuesday, Feb. 19. A half-day will follow for Grosjean on the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 20 with Fittipaldi steering for the first time that afternoon. The Brazilian pilot will continue running the morning of Thursday, Feb. 21 before Magnussen returns in the afternoon to conclude the opening week’s test.
The second week of preseason testing, Feb. 26 to March 1, will see Grosjean and Magnussen run full-day programs on alternate days, starting with Magnussen on Tuesday, Feb. 26.
With Rich Energy Haas F1 Team’s driver line-up unchanged for a third consecutive season, Mercedes being the only other team to field the same pairing as 2018, Grosjean and Magnussen will be seeking to emulate last season’s performances in the VF-18 which led to a fifth place finish in the constructors’ championship with a total of 93 points, the team’s best finish to date in Formula One following back-to-back eighth place standings in 2016 (29 points) and 2017 (47 points).
Looking forward, the 2019 season brings the challenge of adapting to new regulations, resulting in a revised look to the cars this year. A simplified front-wing is evident, now 200mm wider and 20mm higher – designed to allow drivers to follow each other more closely and increase the possibility of overtaking. Similarly, the rear wing has been made simpler, as well as 20mm higher and 100mm wider, to aid slipstreaming and promote closer racing. Smaller, repositioned barge boards are also visible, reduced in height by 150mm and moved forward by 100mm, these have been designed to improve air flow from the front wing making them less aerodynamically disruptive.
The 21-round 2019 FIA Formula One World Championship kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Sunday, March 17.
Guenther Steiner:
Last year’s car, the VF-18, showcased its potential in preseason testing – with the team going on to finish fifth overall in the constructors’ standing in only its third season. Does the performance of last year’s car put pressure on the team to be competitive again straight out of the box with the VF-19, or is there a comfortable gestation period for a Formula One car to increase performance levels at the start of the season?
“There is pressure, of course, as our car performed very well last year. There is then pressure to have a good car this year. We won’t know until we go testing. The hopes are there that we can have a competitive car, but that’s the same as everyone else.”
Have you received a positive reaction to the new look of the car, courtesy of title partner Rich Energy coming on-board, and to the design of the VF-19 from the digital renderings released at the time of the livery unveil last week?
“Absolutely. A lot of people like the new look. It’s kind of a new old-look. There’s been a similar livery run in the past, the black and gold colors have a history in Formula One, in the seventies and eighties particularly. Our cars have always looked nice, it’s just that a new livery is always going to be well received, just because it’s something different. It looks good.”
At the launch event there was a lot of talk concerning expectations for 2019, and in particular building on the team’s 2018 standing. From design and build of the VF-19, through to continuity in driver line-up, team personnel etc, how do you go about planning your route-map to move all aspects of the organization forward?
“It’s on-going work, it’s nothing different from any other team. We always try to improve every little bit of the team, and hopefully we can achieve that.”
Rule changes for 2019 have been implemented with the aim of making the racing more competitive, in particular changes to the front and rear wings to increase the possibilities of overtaking by allowing cars to run closer than before with less aerodynamic disturbance. Share your thoughts on those rule changes and how they lay the groundwork for the major changes set for 2021’s regulations package?
“I think overtaking will still be difficult, even with the rule changes. These cars don’t help themselves on this one. The proof is in the pudding. We’ll see how these latest changes play out in Australia next month.”
In addition to having Grosjean and Magnussen test, Fittipaldi is being given the opportunity to drive the VF-19 across two half-days. Is this a vital element to adding to his simulator program or a potential risk to take time from the regular drivers with running so limited?
“To have Pietro (Fittipaldi) in the car is a big element for our simulator work. We’re always trying to improve that. We need to have him in the car to validate if the simulator program is going well or not. This is vital to our program going forward.”
What do you hope to take from Barcelona when the team packs up in preparation for heading to Melbourne and the Australian Grand Prix in March?
“I hope it’s like last year. I hope we go knowing we have a good car, and that we didn’t have big issues. Hopefully we’ll get a lot of running in, so we know the car is reliable and fast. These are hopes, in two weeks we’ll know a lot more.”
Romain Grosjean:
You’ve documented much of your off-season activities across your popular social media feeds – what’s been the highlight of your time away from the track this winter?
“Spending time with my family has been the highlight. I’ve been enjoying watching my two boys skiing, and watching my daughter growing up - we celebrated her first birthday on the 31st of December. I’ve been having a really good time with them all.”
Reflecting on 2018 for a moment, you proved to be somewhat of a qualifying specialist last season, with 16 Q3 appearances including a run of 11-straight locked in the top 10. Where does that level of consistency come from and is there something about the added pressure of a qualifying session that gets you going in terms of performance?
“I love qualifying. I think it’s a great exercise to get a good lap, a good time on the new tires, it’s where you go the fastest over the course of a weekend. It’s always super good. Saying that, with those 16 Q3 appearances, we had very good car last year and it performed very well. I hope we can try to beat that figure this year and do even better on the track.”
There was a lot of talk at last week’s Rich Energy Haas F1 Team livery unveil of the challenges faced by the team this year, including the pressure to build on last season’s fifth place finish in the constructors’ standings. Is that pressure real to you, and to the team, or is your approach at the start of each new season the same regardless of previous positioning?
“I don’t think it’s a pressure. I think it’s a positive that we had a really good season last year. We’ve grown and improved as a team. We know there are still areas where we can become better, and that’s something to really look forward to. The team has been working really well, we had a good season, a good winter and there’s a lot of momentum going into 2019. I’m looking forward to driving the new car and seeing what we can do with it. I hope we can repeat, or even do better this time around.”
Rule changes for 2019 have been implemented with the aim of making the racing more competitive, in particular changes to the front and rear wings to increase the possibilities of overtaking by allowing cars to run closer than before with less aerodynamic disturbance. Share your thoughts on those rule changes and what you think you’ll see out on track.
“I think we’ll need to wait and see what’s happening out on track. It’s definitely a big challenge for the engineers, the front wing change was a big change for all of them. It looks quite simplistic compared to what we’re used to seeing. I really want to see what it’s like on track before saying anything positive or negative.”
A veteran of seven preseason tests now, how does your experience translate into making a test program successful? What elements do you bring to the table that aid the team during a crucial time where you’re chasing a combination of speed, reliability and mileage?
“It’s always the same thing. I think the first few laps are very important, it’s where you get the first feel of the car. You know then if you’ve got a good baseline, or if there’s going to be a lot of work needed. I’ve discovered a lot of cars, some good ones, some less so. I’m really looking forward to driving the VF-19. Reliability is getting better year-on-year, so I hope again we do a good job with that. If we get the reliability it means we can get the mileage, which is very important going into the first race of the season. Then we’re trying to find some speed on the car, making sure we’re competitive.”
Kevin Magnussen:
What was the priority for you heading into the off-season after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last November? Was it simply to take a break and spend time with family and friends, or do you immediately start focusing on items like physical preparation for the coming season?
“I spent most of December relaxing and spending time with family and friends. It was good to just settle down for a bit and not think about Formula One for a while. After Christmas and New Year I really ramped up my training. I’ve spent the past month and a half at maximum pace. It’s been good, and I feel extremely fit. I’m ready for the season.”
2018 saw you achieve a career-best ninth place finish in the points with 11 top 10 finishes to your credit. Continuity within the team obviously played a part but what other factors would you attribute to your success on-track last season?
“I’d agree that the continuity is a big factor. Of course, as a driver you develop with experience, and you become more complete every year, and with experience you get more consistent, and wiser on track as well.”
There was a lot of talk at last week’s Rich Energy Haas F1 Team livery unveil of the challenges faced by the team this year, including the pressure to build on last season’s fifth place finish in the constructors’ standings. Is that pressure real to you, and to the team, or is your approach at the start of each new season the same regardless of previous positioning?
“For us, as a team, we want to move forward every year and improve ourselves. We want to build on the experience we have, and take steps forward every year. Last year we took a big step, one that was very visible, going from eighth in the constructors’ standings to fifth. Of course we’re not expecting to jump forward three positions in the standings this year, but even if we can take a small step forward, we’ll be happy because we’re continuing the upward trend that the team has had since its beginning.”
Rule changes for 2019 have been implemented with the aim of making the racing more competitive, in particular changes to the front and rear wings to increase the possibilities of overtaking by allowing cars to run closer than before with less aerodynamic disturbance. Share your thoughts on those rule changes and what you think you’ll see out on track.
“I don’t know whether it’s going to make a big difference or not. I think it’ll be great if it does. I’m not really one of those that thinks we need to make changes, I think the racing was already pretty good. In Formula One it’s always going to be difficult to overtake, otherwise it wouldn’t be interesting if you ask me. We’ll see what happens. If we can follow a little bit closer, that wouldn’t hurt, but I don’t know if we needed it.”
2019 marks the third season in a row you’re paired alongside Romain Grosjean – with only Rich Energy Haas F1 Team and Mercedes fielding unchanged line-ups this year. Describe your relationship with your teammate, where you complement each other and perhaps where you’re different, and what you think that continuity in line-up offers the team in terms of development and performance heading into testing and the new season?
“With Romain (Grosjean) we’ve got a great driver with a lot of experience. He’s very fast on track, in qualifying especially, but also in the races. I feel like we’re complementing each other. We put pressure on each other, which is good in a team. Continuity is key as the team knows us quite well by now, they can build on the relationship. They know what we need as drivers from the car, and what preferences we have. That helps in developing the car. I’m very happy that we’re continuing together, and I’m looking forward to hopefully another great season.”
Pietro Fittipaldi:
Since being announced as Rich Energy Haas F1 Team’s test driver last November, and testing the VF-18 at the Pirelli tire test at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi that same month, what have your activities been within the team over the off-season?
“My off-season really hasn’t been too long. From Abu Dhabi I went back to North Carolina, that’s where my family lives, so I stayed there for a month on holiday. I’ve been back living in Italy, in Maranello, since January working in the simulator along with Romain (Grosjean) and Kevin (Magnussen). We’ve been working through the plan for the 2019 season, specifically working on the new aero specifications in the simulator. It definitely felt like a short off-season.”
Share what a typical day in the simulator consists of from meeting with engineers, studying the run-plan, to the actual driving element? What are the parameters for a successful day in the simulator?
“The simulator is an important tool nowadays for all Formula One teams. With the test restrictions, it’s not like the old days where you could have a test team and just go out and do loads of testing. We’re really restricted these days with the number of tests you can do, so the investment goes into simulation work. The simulators these days are very good, they’re very similar to the real car. The engineers will send me a run plan beforehand, so I can prepare for the track we’re going to be using in the simulator. If they want to test something new on the aero side, or on the mechanical side, they’ll test it all in the simulator first, before trying it on track. They’ll see how it correlates and how it looks on the data.”
You’re scheduled for two half-day sessions driving the VF-19 in Barcelona in the first week of preseason testing. What are your expectations for the test and how valuable is it to you to drive the VF-19 at the start of the season assisting in the team’s development of the new car?
“I’m really look forward to the test. I got to test the 2018 car at the end of last year and now I get to try the 2019 car in preseason testing. Any time you get to drive a Formula One car, it’s something you really look forward to. The main focus on the test will be to assist the team to develop the car as much as possible before the first race of the season. I’m sure there’ll be a lot of test items the team will want to go through. We’ll want to see how reliable the new car is, I’m sure we’ll be aiming for a lot of miles. The goal at the end of the day, as a driver, is to go as fast as possible, to drive the car as fast as you can, but it’s also to give the team really good feedback. That’s crucial to the development of the car before the first race.”
How closely are you working alongside regular drivers Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen? What are their strengths, from what you’ve observed, and how does your skillset complement their styles?
“It’s been really good to be working with Romain (Grosjean) and Kevin (Magnussen). They’re two great guys and we all get along well. That’s good for the team atmosphere. They’re experienced drivers in Formula One, so for me, I’m able to learn from them and feed off their experience. That’s really important for me.”
From your experience running the VF-18 last November, what are you most looking forward to regarding getting back behind the wheel of a Formula One car?
“Well, it’s a Formula One car, so I’m looking forward to it all. From the braking, to the acceleration, the cornering speeds, it’s all at the highest level of motorsport. The cars are just amazing to drive. Like I said before, any time you get an opportunity to drive a Formula One car, it’s always something you’re definitely going to look forward to.”