Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing Recap
November 22, 2022
Haas F1 Team concluded its on-track activities for 2022 at Yas Marina Circuit on Tuesday with the team participating in the solitary post-season test day with Nico Hülkenberg and Pietro Fittipaldi driving a VF-22 each.
Hülkenberg, announced as Kevin Magnussen’s new teammate for 2023 at last week’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, made his track debut for the American team – the German straight to work participating in the scheduled Pirelli tire testing.
Fittipaldi, Haas F1 Team’s official test and reserve driver, was back behind the wheel fulfilling the young driver test obligation – the Brazilian following up his FP1 stint from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with extended track running in the VF-22 on the 2023 tires.
Nico Hülkenberg, Driver No. 27, Haas F1 Team
“It was a good day of work, good running, collected many impressions and a lot of data – which was the target. We successfully went through our program. There’s a lot of things to pick through, digest and analyze now and over the next couple of weeks with the team. Today was about learning the tires for 2023, learning their characteristics and with these test days you have a bit more time to try stuff. I’m satisfied and happy with the day. There was a bit of human degradation towards the end day, but I coped better than expected to be honest – so that’s good. There’s now three months of hard-core preparation to get ready, I have a plan and I know what I have to do.”
Pietro Fittipaldi, Driver No. 51, Haas F1 Team
“It was an amazing day of testing. We got just under 100 laps of testing in using the new 2023 tires. Again, I felt pretty comfortable in the car and fast off the bat – so that allowed us to kick on with the test program. It was a very positive day from my side. Thanks to the team for the opportunity.”
Ayao Komatsu, Director of Engineering, Haas F1 Team
“So, we had a pretty good day today with Nico. We had a bit of PU trouble in the morning, but in the end he completed 110 laps. For a first time back in the car for a while, I’d say he’s done a really good job. We tested quite a lot of stuff which will be useful for next year. Pietro, in the other car, he did 99 laps, and as usual his preparation was good and his feedback excellent. He didn’t put a foot wrong today, it was a really good day with him. We’re very happy with the way the day’s gone overall.”