The Uralkali Haas F1 Team was satisfied to see both their rookie drivers finish the race under mixed conditions at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, Italy. The team has yet to open its account this season and is languishing at the bottom of the constructors’ championship.
Mick Schumacher lost his front-wing as he was warming his tyres behind the Safety Car in the slippery conditions. The German’s radio engineer displayed the patience the team has to show as it guides its two young drivers in their debut seasons. Schumacher was calmed by the pitwall as he had to wait for the pit entry to reopen and have a new front-wing fitted.
Nikita Mazepin stayed away from his usual mistakes to finish the race. Schumacher finished in sixteenth position and Mazepin finished in seventeenth position respectively. This was the first race that Mazepin completed in Formula 1.
Guenther Steiner, the Haas F1 Team Principal, who does not suffer fools gladly has been remarkably calm as he leads a team bringing up the rear of the field.
Steiner was satisfied with the drivers finishing the race and said: “We got two cars home in what was quite an eventful race with the changing weather conditions. There were a few things thrown our way again but ultimately, we recovered and finished the race with both Nikita (Mazepin) and Mick (Schumacher) at the checkered – which is good.
“That’s what I always want, that we do the laps, and that the guys learn. I want them to keep improving and especially for Nikita, it was good today that he finished the race after missing out in Bahrain.
“He now has a complete race under his belt. Mick did well to recover from the earlier part of his race. As much as it’s not the result that makes you happy, what makes you happy is that we made progress. That was our plan, and if we can continue to work like this – with less mistakes and more performance, that’s what we’re here for this year.”
