MoneyGram Haas F1 Workforce’s 2023 FIA Formulation 1 World Championship marketing campaign will proceed with Spherical 15, the Italian Grand Prix, on the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
Italy has a distinguished historical past within the motor-racing trade, with MoneyGram Haas F1 Workforce’s long-term associate Ferrari based mostly in Maranello, the place MoneyGram Haas F1 Workforce has its design places of work. Maranello is a focal a part of Italy’s ‘Motor Valley’, the place the backbone of its motorsport and motoring trade is positioned, however its heartbeat emanates from the high-speed Autodromo Nazionale Monza, which has lengthy been the house of Formulation 1’s Italian Grand Prix. Monza has hosted 72 Formulation 1 grands prix, greater than every other circuit in historical past.
The observe, constructed within the verdant Villa Reale Park of Monza, to the north of Lombardy’s prosperous Milan, was first utilized in 1922. Since then it has been the de facto dwelling of Formulation 1’s Italian Grand Prix, absent solely as soon as in 1980, when renovation works have been undertaken. The circuit has developed throughout the many years, with the famed banked oval discontinued within the Nineteen Sixties, whereas chicanes have been finally added, redesigned, and refined.
However, Monza stays one of many quickest circuits on the planet, with Lewis Hamilton clocking a median lap pace of 264.363km/h – the quickest lap in Formulation 1 historical past – throughout qualifying in 2020. Monza consequently wants a low-downforce set-up to realize excessive high pace, that means the influence of the slipstream and DRS is lessened in comparison with common. Nonetheless, regardless of the will for optimum velocity, drivers additionally want excessive confidence for Monza’s essential braking zones and dedication to sort out its few however important medium and high-speed corners, such because the Ascari chicane and Parabolica curve.
Kevin Magnussen has contested seven Italian grands prix whereas Nico Hulkenberg has competed 9 instances on the venue, twice recording a high 5 end, in 2013 and 2019 respectively.
The Dutch Grand Prix was a race that relied on quick-thinking, flexibility and a few risk-taking. How would you assess the race for the workforce relating to points inside our management?Guenther Steiner: “I believe we carried out very nicely in that respect. It wasn’t at all times straightforward. With hindsight we might at all times do issues otherwise, however I believe the one factor we might’ve performed can be to usher in Nico when it first began raining originally of the race. On the time, we needed to separate the technique, so it wasn’t the fallacious resolution, however clearly we did not know what was coming, In any other case, I believe the pit crew was at all times on it with the tire modifications, we had all good pit stops and it was fairly easy.”
What significance did the updates dropped at Zandvoort have on the VF-23 and at this level within the season, what’s extra important to the workforce – bettering consistency within the automobile or discovering tempo?GS: “It was very troublesome to evaluate with the troublesome circumstances and the crashes that we had within the free observe classes, so we by no means actually had good knowledge. Primarily Kevin stated it was an enchancment on the automobile, however we’ve to confirm over the subsequent two races as a result of with Monza it is also very troublesome to come back to a conclusion due to its high-speed character. What we have to discover is tempo, I believe we will get consistency within the automobile fairly simply however we’d like tempo and we’ll maintain engaged on it.”
Subsequent, we head to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, the ultimate European spherical of this season. With the game rising in recognition globally, how essential nonetheless is the European market to Formulation 1? GS: “Formulation 1 was born in Europe, so it is essential and I believe everybody is aware of the significance of it. We have got a giant fan base right here, one which’s adopted the game for a very long time, as in different components of the world. I believe there’ll at all times be a house base, and that can be Europe. Clearly for this season, that is the final race in Europe earlier than we go to Asia, the Center East and the Americas, however I at all times assume Europe can be essential for Formulation 1.”
It is a dwelling race for our engine provider Ferrari in addition to lots of our workforce members. By way of racing heritage, the place does the Autodromo Nazionale Monza rank and what racing recollections do you’ve from the circuit? GS: “Monza is one in all our dwelling circuits, I believe we’ve fairly a couple of now. Monza is at all times a spot with such historical past and followers, it is only a particular place if you drive into the park and circuit, it is at all times good to go there. We have now a whole lot of workforce members in Italy at our Maranello base and for them it is a good probability to see a race and see the workforce. It is one of many good races all year long. I’ve good recollections of getting a podium right here with Eddie Irvine in 2002, so someday we’ll get a podium once more.”
Congratulations on confirming your race seat with MoneyGram Haas F1 Workforce for subsequent 12 months, your seventh season with the workforce. Having your future secured with a big a part of this marketing campaign nonetheless to go, does it carry a renewed confidence behind the wheel {that a} driver in any other case may lack when contract negotiations are ongoing?Kevin Magnussen: “I am tremendous thrilled to be persevering with for one more 12 months with MoneyGram Haas F1 Workforce. I have been with the group for six years, subsequent 12 months can be my seventh season, and I very a lot really feel that this workforce is my prolonged household. It is my dwelling in Formulation 1 and we have had a whole lot of good instances collectively so hopefully we will construct on that subsequent 12 months. We’re having a tricky time this season, there’s a whole lot of potential within the workforce and we’re heading in an excellent course, we simply want to enhance on our automobile at present. I believe we’re doing a whole lot of good work this 12 months and I am excited to see the place we will take it for subsequent season.”
We transfer to Autodromo Nazionale Monza for the Italian Grand Prix. What’s it about this observe that places it up there with different historic circuits, and is it one you prefer to battle on?KM: “I like Monza, it is one of many iconic races of the 12 months. It is a historic observe, an outdated observe, it has a whole lot of character. It is distinctive with the lengthy straights and the low downforce that we run there, it is an actual slipstream race. It is distinctive in each manner – the way in which of your driving fashion, the way in which you race different folks, and it has a incredible environment as nicely. With all of the Italian workforce members at Haas, it is also one of many races the place we wish to perform a little bit further as it is a semi-home race in some methods.”
It is the second race the place Formulation 1 can be trialing the ‘different tire technique’. What have been your ideas after Budapest and what modifications could possibly be made in your opinion to cut back the variety of tires dropped at a race with out compromising on leisure?KM: “I do not assume it made a giant distinction in Hungary, apart from just a little bit much less operating in observe. I believe a great way of lowering the variety of tires we use might be to take a look at the qualifying format and take a look at doing a shoot-out, only one lap per driver, like again within the day. That might save 4 units no less than.”
It is the ultimate European race earlier than the calendar strikes all over the world for the ultimate eight occasions of the season. How essential is the European market to you personally, given its your private home area?KM: “I do not often name it the European market, however I believe a very powerful races for us as a workforce are in America. In fact, it is good for me to do nicely at European races the place there is a Danish presence within the grandstands however in actuality, racing for an American workforce means it is actually a pleasure to race within the US. I believe I’ve scored factors within the final two US races with Haas, in Austin final 12 months and Miami this 12 months, so it could be very nice to proceed in Austin. I believe within the European season we did not do in addition to we did within the first half so I am trying ahead to attending to this second half of the season with some iconic tracks, and naturally some races within the US.”
Congratulations on confirming your race seat with MoneyGram Haas F1 Workforce for subsequent 12 months. Having your future secured with a big a part of this marketing campaign nonetheless to go, does it carry a renewed confidence behind the wheel {that a} driver in any other case may lack when contract negotiations are ongoing?Nico Hulkenberg: “I am comfortable that we have been in a position to announce the excellent news in order that we will deal with racing and enhance our efficiency. We work nicely as a workforce, so this can be a nice alternative to construct upon and attempt to higher our place within the championship.”
We transfer to Autodromo Nazionale Monza for the Italian Grand Prix. You have scored in half of the races you’ve got competed in at this circuit, what’s it about this observe that places it up there with different historic circuits, and is it one you prefer to battle on?NH: “It is a enjoyable, very quick observe and one which’s steeped in historical past – you may’t escape it and the Tifosi are tremendous passionate. It is a low downforce circuit although so I do not count on a straightforward journey this weekend, however we’ll go on the market and gather extra knowledge which hopefully may also help us for the remainder of the season.
It is the second race the place Formulation 1 can be trialing the ‘different tire technique’. What have been your ideas after Budapest and what modifications could possibly be made in your opinion to cut back the variety of tires dropped at a race with out compromising on leisure?NH: “It was the primary time that we had the choice tire technique in Budapest so I believe we have to be open-minded to vary, however we won’t compromise on leisure and observe operating for the followers that come to see us. I help the transfer to take a look at tires from a sustainability standpoint, however it must work virtually to not limit groups.”
It is the ultimate European race earlier than the calendar strikes all over the world for the ultimate eight occasions of the season. How essential is the European market to you personally, given its your private home area?NH: “Europe is the birthplace of motorsport and has so many iconic and difficult tracks. Formulation 1 has grown in recognition a lot over the previous few years, I’ve felt that myself after coming again into the game. It is nice to have the ability to go to races with new followers who’re studying about F1, and different locations the place there’s present and leisure and massive names from different sports activities wanting to come back to observe us race. I believe we’re in an excellent place when it comes to places at present.”
