Ayao Komatsu: New place and rain for Shanghai / Formula 1

After a positive surprise at Suzuka (11/13) and missing points, the Haas team heads into the Chinese Grand Prix with optimism.

Team boss Ayao Komatsu: “Regarding the characteristics of the track, I take a lot of good things from Suzuka, where the weakness of our car was clearly visible. In Shanghai the corner speed is low, the back straight is very long and the long straight is also respectable height, which should match our best car.

Haas is bringing the first set of updates to Shanghai. Komatsu confirmed a similar report from Auto Motor und Sport on Monday. According to the trade magazine, most of the package planned for Imola has already been completed – but only in two versions. Accordingly, only one car will drive with it so that in the event of an accident you still have a spare part and you can prevent the start of the penalty from the pit lane.

Kevin Magnussen can already drive the upgrade in China. The reason for this: At Imola, Magnussen has to hand over his Haas to substitute driver Oliver Bearman for training, then he would only have two sessions to get used to the new place and would be squeezed twice.

Komatsu: “We are presenting the first part of our upgrade package in Shanghai, which we are very excited about.”

You don’t have much time left to modify the car to a new track and parts. The first race of the season will be held in China. This means: 60 minutes of training and then we go straight into qualifying for the long run. Plus: It might rain.

Komatsu: «The weather looks like it will be a little rainy on Friday. That will be a challenge in FP1 if it actually happens. We have to develop a test program to make sure the car is fit for Sunday’s race.

According to the weather report, the forecast is currently varying between whether it will rain on Friday or Saturday in Jiading, China, near Shanghai.

Komatsu: »When it’s raining we can’t learn much, but every lack of power helps. That should be positive. Once it dries we want to use the period to modify the car with the aero package. So there is a lot to do.”

And thanks to the sprint race, all this happened in just one session.

Japan-GP, Suzuka Circuit

01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:54:23,566 h
02. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, +12.535 seconds
03. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, +20,866
04. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +26,522
05. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +29.700
06. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, +44,272
07. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, +45,951
08. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, +47.525
09. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, +48,626
10. Yuki Tsunoda (J), Bulls Racing, +1 Round
11. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, +1 lap
12. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, +1 Round
13. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1 Lap
14. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), clean, +1 lap
15. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, +1 Round
16. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, +1 Round
17. Logan Sargeant (USA), Williams, +1 Round

outside
Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, Elektrik
Alex Albon (T), Williams, Crash
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Racing Bull, Crash

World Championship Standings (after 4 out of 24 Grands Prix)

the driver
01. Verstappen 77 points
02. Perez 64
03. Leclerc 59
04. Sainz 55
05. Norris 37
06. Plate 32
07. Russell 24
08. Alonso 24
09. Hamilton 10
10. Walk 7
11. Tsunoda 7
12. Oliver Bearman (GB) 6
13. Hulkenberg 3
14. Magnussen 1
15. Alboni 0
16. Zhou 0
17. Ricciardo 0
18. Okon 0
19. 0 gas
20. Bota 0
21. Sergeant 0

Builders Cup
01. Red Bull Racing 141 Punkte
02. Ferrari 120
03. McLaren 69
04. Mercedes 34
05. Aston Martin 33
06. Running Bull 7
07. Especially 4
08. Williams 0
09. Sauber 0
10. Alpine 0