Guenther Steiner claims the Red Bull-influenced VF-23 is not ‘good enough’ after dismal Austin outing

The Haas drivers ended their US GP exploits out of the top 10 positions.

Guenther Steiner claims the Red Bull-influenced VF-23 is not ‘good enough’ after dismal Austin outing

Kevin Magnussen and Gunther Steiner (Via IMAGO)

The Guenther Steiner-led Haas Formula 1 team came with a huge Red Bull-influenced package for the United States Grand Prix. But with only one session to test out the package, their charge soon ran out of steam as they had to take the VF-23 out of parc-ferme conditions ahead of the main race to do a few setup changes.

This meant that both Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen had to start from the pits, and after the 56-lap race, Guenther Steiner admitted that Haas had got a lot of work to do. At the bumpy COTA track, the VF-23’s rear was sliding too much going into corners and was causing immense tire deg.

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We were a little bit behind, knowing that we only had one hour. It’s not like saying that we did a bad job, it was just very tight, such a big upgrade, and going in here

Steiner said, as reported by Autosport.

Moreover, while stressing the potential of the new package, he added that despite being easily overtaken by rivals on the track due to their lack of race pace, the team is in the right direction for 2024.

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I don't know how good it is yet. At least both drivers could race some people today, because the last five [races] we were just being overtaken. Are we good enough? No. We need to get more out of it. At least we're moving in the right direction.

Haas has got AlphaTauri right on its tail after the US GP

While Guenther Steiner is itching to test out the full potential of the updated VF-23 during the upcoming races, after the US GP, AlphaTauri has massively closed the gap on Haas in the 2023 Constrictors Championship. As things stand, the Kannapolis-based team barely holds onto ninth place with only 12 points to its name.

Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg (Credits: Sportsmanor)
Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg (Credits: Sportsmanor)

AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda had a tremendous outing during the Austin weekend, scoring five points for his team. Courtesy of his efforts, the Franz Tost-led team is now only 2 points behind Steiner and Co. with 10 points to their name. If Haas loses out on its current ninth place this year, it would be a huge blow for the team.

However, the one good thing that is riding on Haas’s side is the fact that, in case the new package does start producing potent performance from Mexico onward, it would keep the team in good stead for the remainder of 2023 and also for next year’s campaign of the sport.

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