HAAS Upgrade Package Forthcoming:

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Team Principal Gunther Steiner has revealed that the expected upgrade package for the VF-22 will be delivered at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Steiner also stated that this upgrade would be the last of the '22 season, with the team electing to prioritize efforts for developing next year's car.  HAAS has held out on implementing upgrades for the entirety of the season thus far.  This is likely related to cost and the rate of development of other teams.

The season started strong for HAAS with the returning Kevin Magnussen delivering a decent haul of points at the first event held in Bahrain.  However, both drivers have since experienced a worrying amount of misfortune.  Several accidents and mechanical failures have hampered the team's fight with the rest of the midfield. 

The team is encouraged by the upcoming package, but they still have 4 GPs to battle through until it is delivered.  Many teams have introduced significant upgrades and have gained ground.  It will be interesting to see if the FIA's recently announced technical directive to monitor porpoising will level the playing field, with some teams being forced to sacrifice performance by raising the ride height of their cars.  

Given that this blog is intended to speak to the growing American F1 audience, it seems appropriate to state how significant it is that there is an American team on the grid.  In the history of F1 there have been only 8 American teams with the last one exiting after the 1980 season.  HAAS competing in the pinnacle of motorsport is something very close to a miracle.  F1 is extremely euro-centric and teams from outside of that sphere of influence have significant barriers to overcome to make it to the grid.  Let's all keep our fingers crossed for the possible Andretti entry in the coming seasons, but for now please buy some HAAS merch.  They've worked hard to get where they are and they need some love from their home fans.  

A.T.

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