Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Preview

The journey for Haas F1 Team in 2022 began a couple of years ago, when the decision was taken to pour the team’s resources onto the new regulations, which welcomed in a new era.

After a tough 2021, spent grafting and grinding at the back of the grid, Haas F1 Team was immediately competitive with the VF-22. Returnee Kevin Magnussen scored a stunning fifth in Bahrain and from there a points challenge was possible at nearly every grand prix, as Magnussen and Mick Schumacher raced ferociously in Formula 1’s engrossing midfield fight.

Haas F1 Team enters the season finale eighth in the Constructors’ Championship, with Magnussen and Schumacher combining to claim 37 points, in a season which also featured a maiden pole position for Magnussen and Haas F1 Team in São Paulo.

Abu Dhabi joined Formula 1’s calendar in 2009 at the Yas Marina Circuit, crafted on the no-expenses-spared Yas Island, around 30 minutes’ drive from downtown. Yas Marina has been the traditional location for Formula 1’s curtain closer, holding finales in 2009/10, and then every season since 2014.

It has been the venue for several championship deciders, most famously in 2021, when Max Verstappen was crowned World Champion following a last-lap pass on Lewis Hamilton. 

The 16-turn 5.2km circuit features two lengthy straights and several medium-speed turns, with the track’s showpiece now the long-radius turn 9, which was introduced in 2021 following a renovation to the layout. The final sector, which includes the track passing beneath the latticed W Hotel, was also opened up, leading to lap times approximately 13 seconds faster than the pre-2021 layout. 

Haas F1 Team Reserve Driver Pietro Fittipaldi will return to the VF-22 for FP1, in place of Schumacher, to complete the team’s young driver obligation for 2022.

 

Guenther Steiner – Team Principal

Brazil was a weekend probably unlike any other Haas F1 Team has experienced in its seven-year history – with the standout moment naturally being Kevin Magnussen and the team’s first pole position.  Now you’ve had some time to reflect on that moment – talk us through your emotions at the time and ultimately what it means for the team to check another milestone off?

“The feeling when we realized that the pole position was done – which was pretty quick after the first six or seven cars came over the finish line because the rain intensified – was just a feeling of satisfaction. For me personally I was so happy for the team as they always put so much effort in. I always say being last is the same amount of effort as being first so hats off to them as they made no mistakes at all during qualifying, it was perfectly executed. The mechanics, engineers and Kevin did a fantastic job on Friday afternoon.”

 

Kevin converted pole position in Brazil to a points-paying finish in the Sprint on the Saturday – marking his third consecutive Sprint points finish. Just how important could that eighth place point be for the team in its battle for eighth in the Constructors’ Championship?

“Finishing eighth was not only a point that counts, it’s also that he kept position not only because we knew the top-three teams will overtake us and only one McLaren got past. I’m very proud of what was achieved in the Sprint and I think we could’ve done something very similar on Sunday if Ricciardo hadn’t of taken us out on the first lap. Anyway, here we are and hopefully that point makes the difference, and we can stay in front of AlphaTauri, as that’s what we’re aiming for now for the last race.”

 

We come to Yas Marina Circuit this weekend and Pietro Fittipaldi is once again behind the wheel of the VF-22 for the FP1 session ahead of his participation in the post-season test in Abu Dhabi next week – how important is that seat time ahead of next week and what are the objectives with Pietro in both FP1 and the test?

“Pietro has been a part of the Haas family for a few years now and as our official reserve driver we need to put him in the car so at least he can stay sharp in case we need to get him in the car during a race weekend. The objectives are to do a good job and learn about the car – he already knows how to work with the engineers – but to get a feeling of the car and give us his feedback on the car. Additional feedback is always good for the team.”

The conclusion of the 2022 FIA Formula 1 World Championship this weekend, with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, marks the end of another frantic season. How would you evaluate the season and what are the goals heading into the off-season in terms of the work being done to capitalize on this season’s strengths?

“It was a comeback season after two years being at the end of the classifications of the Constructors’ Championship but what we said last year was that we focus on the future and that’s what we’ve done. We’ve taken a big step forward. It hasn’t been as smooth as we wanted it to be but it’s very difficult in the modern era of Formula 1 to come back from where we were to where we are now.

"I think the whole team has done a good job to get us to this point and hopefully we finish eighth – fingers crossed! We just need to take lessons from this year – there are a few to be learned – and we adapt for next year, and we will get back even stronger. We know we can do it, we showed again that we can come back and we will come back even stronger next year.”

 

Finally, after the checkered flag drops – what then becomes your priority as Team Principal heading into winter?

“To get everyone focused on next year because as much as it sounds strange but when a season like this finishes you just want more of it and want to be better for next year. That will be my priority – trying to motivate everyone to get better, trying to make those who have done 22 races to get a bit of rest and now the pressure is on the people who are preparing next year’s car – designing, developing and preparing. It’s not a long winter anyway and we just need to get ready for the test next year in Bahrain.”