New Haas F1 car should suit Magnussen better, says boss Komatsu

Kevin Magnussen struggled at occasions all through final season to get as a lot out of the workforce’s 2023 challenger as team-mate Nico Hulkenberg as a result of its traits didn’t go well with his fashion. 

His choice to hold velocity by a nook, which calls for a automobile handles properly the transition from braking on the method and turn-in, was not one thing that the Haas VF-23 was good at.

As a substitute, it misplaced stability when requested to make use of braking and rotational forces on the identical time. This made it higher for drivers like Hulkenberg, who’ve what’s referred to as a V-style method – the place they brake extra in a straight line, flip sharply after which speed up out. 

As Magnussen stated on the time: “You possibly can’t actually mix Gs a lot with these vehicles. It’s important to V the corners extra. And that is the 2 completely different driving kinds: V-style or not.  

“There’s many various variations of those two, however in broad phrases that is what I discover, and this yr’s automobile on our aspect is much more susceptible like that.” 

Haas has spent the winter making an attempt to deal with the problems it confronted final yr, and new workforce boss Komatsu believes that Magnussen ought to really feel enhancements to assist elevate his type. 

“I wouldn’t say eradicated, that’s an enormous phrase,” he stated when requested in regards to the issues that Magnussen confronted final yr. “However actually, we have now improved on it.  

“He’s a driver who wants good entry stability and constant [handling] by a nook.”  

Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photos

Ayao Komatsu and Kevin Magnussen on the grid final yr

Komatsu says he has a very good working relationship with each of Haas’s F1 drivers, and reckoned that they may make good progress collectively in the event that they stayed sincere with one another. 

“Clearly, I’ve recognized Kevin [Magnussen] for some years,” he stated. “Nico [Hulkenberg], I actually loved working with him final yr. I didn’t know him earlier than.   

“Though really, once I was working with Lotus, he got here for a seat match – I can’t bear in mind which yr – and he remembered that as properly.   

“They each know that I’m fairly simple. I say what I believe. Not being aggressive or something, however no bullshit, it’s simply that we haven’t obtained time to waste.  

“They know precisely the place I’m then, the place they’re, and we work properly collectively. By way of our strengths and weaknesses, we perceive one another fairly properly.  We’ve obtained a very good open and clear dialogue, so I’m pleased with that.”