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| Photo Credit: Andy Hone/ LAT Images/ Pirelli |
Team Grade: D+
Overall Season:
An organization that seemingly avoided the growing pains of building a competitive squad in Formula 1 when they scored points in three of their first four grand prix event in 2016, some could argue the Haas F1 Team’s fortunes acted in reverse following their 2019 and 2020 outings. For the fourth season returning with veteran drivers Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean, the American-owned race team struggled throughout the 2020 season with a slow Ferrari-powered VF-20 machine. Along with experiencing the same performance issues from their powertrain as other Ferrari entrants, other flaws with the VF-20 design caused drivers to cite the race car as lacking balance and grip.
Achievements During 2020 Season:
To start, a highlight of the Haas F1 Team’s season and underperforming VF-20 race car was not based on its competition. The first lap crash of Romain Grosjean at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix was visually one of the scariest impacts seen in modern Formula 1. The impact caused the Haas F1 Team’s vehicle to sheer into two and erupt in a fiery explosion. However, even as the cockpit portion of the race car had jammed into the track’s metal retaining barrier, Grosjean was able climbed out with assistance from emergency workers. While the French driver suffered severe burns to his hands and ankles, the injuries were fortunately minor compared to the scope of the crash. The halo structure as well as the safety engineering built into Formula 1 cars including the VF-20 provided an astonishing result equal to a race victory.
Knowing that their VF-20 race car lacked the pace to competently contend for top 10 finishes, the Haas F1 Team undertook some inventive tactics to gain the three points they received in 2020. During the Hungarian Grand Prix as most of the field started on intermediate tires, both team cars were brought to the pits on the formation lap for slick tires noticing the drying Hungaroring circuit. Although the team was penalized for the manner they performed the tire change, Kevin Magnussen was able to capture a tenth place finish. At the Eifel Grand Prix on German’s Nurburgring race track, the Haas F1 Team kept Romain Grosjean on track as many racers pitted under a safety car and ultimately crossed the finish line in ninth place.
Shortcomings During 2020 Season:
The season was overall ugly for the Haas F1 Team. Not as embarrassing as last year when a very public sponsorship dilemma served as a distraction, Haas F1 Team’s 2020 campaign resulted in even fewer points. Ending the 2020 season, the Haas F1 Team vehicles recorded the most retirements in Formula 1 with nine (Kevin Magnussen also withdrew from the Turkish Grand Prix after 55 laps but was classified for the event).
The VF-20 race car as well as its Ferrari powertrain is cited as a leading culprit to the Haas F1 Team’s dismal performance in 2020. Lacking grip and usable power, the pace of the squad’s vehicles was hindered at every track on the tour. During the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, the Haas F1 Team entered Saturday qualifying on an optimistic tone after Friday practice but ended the time trial promptly with 16th and 17th place starting spots. The team’s only double race retirement for the 2020 season came at the opening round in Austria where both cars dropped out of the event due to brake issues.
Team's Drivers:
#8 Romain Grosjean: C
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| Photo Credit: Mark Sutton/ LAT Images/ Pirelli |
Overall Season:
Romain Grosjean joined the Haas F1 Team during the organization’s opening season in the sport in 2016. Competing in his fifth and final year with the American-based team, the French driver has endured the most turbulent run. After a 2019 Formula 1 season where Grosjean struggled to capture eight points with the Haas F1 Team, 2020 was a bitter disappointment. In his 15 races for during this past season, he was only able to finish a single event in the top 10. While the performance deficit with the Haas VF-20 race car was evident, Grosjean would be more open with the issues of the 2020 machine when it became clear he would not be returning to the team for 2021. Grosjean’s career in Formula 1 has come to a less than ceremonious end being forced sit out the final two races after surviving a scary crash in the opening lap of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Achievements During 2020 Season:
Shortcomings During 2020 Season:
The foreseeable conclusion of a Formula 1 career started in 2009 and involved many podium finishes in 2012 and 2013, Romain Grosjean’s 2020 campaign on the track was less than glorious. Not only did Grosjean miss out on points in 14 of 15 races, he wasn’t even close to competing for a top 10 finish. One of the most difficult races for Grosjean’s 2020 campaign was the Haas F1 Team’s disastrous outing at the Spanish Grand Prix. After finishing the weekend’s first two practice sessions in the top-6, the #8 car qualified 17th and would the main event in finish 19th place.
#20 Kevin Magnussen: C-
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| Photo Credit: Charles Coates/ LAT Images/ Pirelli |
Overall Season:
Making his debut in Formula 1 with McLaren 2014, Denmark’s Kevin Magnussen closed out his career in the series with the conclusion of the 2020. Son of Jan Magnussen who had 24 career starts in Formula 1 wrapped up by a career-best sixth place finish at the 1998 Canadian Grand Prix, 28-year-old Kevin enjoyed 119 starts in the series with his best race result coming in his debut in the 2014 Australian Grand Prix with a runner-up finish. Unfortunately for Magnussen, the second place result in his first Formula 1 event would be his only podium result after six full seasons on the tour. Competing with the Haas F1 Team for the fourth year in 2020 netted Kevin Magnussen one of the worst overall seasonal campaign scoring just one point. In 2021, the Danish driver will follow his father’s career footsteps into sports car racing.
Achievements During 2020 Season:
Set to be Kevin Magnussen’s final Formula 1 points-paying finish in his career came at the 2020 Hungarian Grand Prix. Owed largely due to the Haas F1 Team choosing to pit both of their cars for slick Pirelli tires at the start of the race, Magnussen finished event in ninth place. He was demoted to tenth after receiving a 10-second time penalty resulting for his team aiding their driver on a formation lap breaching sporting regulations for radio communications.
In three grand prix events, Kevin Magnussen and his Haas F1 Team’s #20 race car were able to escape the first round of qualifying ultimately gaining a 15th place result in qualifying results.
Shortcomings During 2020 Season:
Similar to his teammate Romain Grosjean, Kevin Magnussen had to compete with a less than stellar VF-20 race car that was often found near the back of the Formula 1 grid. During the Belgian Grand Prix and Tuscan Grand Prix weekends, Magnussen’s #20 machine was the slowest vehicle in qualifying. In addition to driving a disappointing competition car, the 2020 season for the Danish driver was also marked by several retirements. Kevin Magnussen failed to be running at the finish of 7 of the 17 races with reasons for retirement consisting of mechanical issues, being caught in a multi-car wreck at the Tuscan Grand Prix and a tire shortage at the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix.
#51 Pietro Fittipaldi (Round 16 & 17): C
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| Photo Credit: Andy Hone/ LAT Images/ Pirelli |
Overall Season:
With regular driver Romain Grosjean sidelined due to injuries suffered the lap one crash in the Bahrain Grand Prix, the Haas F1 Team called up their test driver Pietro Fittipaldi to complete the final two races in the 2020 season in the open seat. The grandson of two-time Formula 1 World Drivers’ Champion Emerson Fittipaldi and nephew of racer Max Papis, the 24-year-old driver is American born but competes under the Brazilian flag winning several titles open wheel-style feeder series. With a strong racing pedigree, Pietro Fittipaldi debut in Formula 1 came with the Sakhir Grand Prix finishing in 17th place. Fittipaldi also completed with the team for the 2020 series finale.
Achievements During 2020 Season:
Though finishes of 17th and 19th place in two grand prix events are not generally worth accolades on the surface, Pietro Fittipaldi performed admirably for the circumstances presented to him. Added to the driving lineup of the Haas F1 Team within a week as a substitute entrant for the Sakhir Grand Prix, Fittipaldi’s expectations were kept modest with finishes in both races proving to be an achievement when looking at the broader picture. Team Principal for the race squad Guenther Steiner expressed satisfaction for “Pietro (Fittipaldi) did a good job in his first race having not driven a Formula 1 car in a year.”
Shortcomings During 2020 Season:
Pietro Fittipaldi’s second race at the 2020 Formula 1 season finale in Abu Dhabi proved slightly more disappointing than the Sakhir Grand Prix due to issues with his #51 machine. Ending qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix one step up from his debut one week earlier Bahrain International Circuit but starting 17th due to other opponents’ grid penalties, Fittipaldi Haas F1 Team VF-20 race car was able to run ahead of teammate Kevin Magnussen during the early part of the race on the Yas Marina Circuit but encountered an overheating problem that required an added pit stop dropping him to finish at the last car running on the race.
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