Will Kevin Magnussen get along much better with the Haas 2024? At least that’s what the new team boss Ayao Komatsu believes, who succeeded his predecessor Günther Steiner at the helm of the American racing team.
Magnussen experienced a difficult year in 2023. After holding his own against Mick Schumacher in 2022 – even if the race duels actually went to the German with a score of 13:8 – the Dane had a difficult time against comebacker Nico Hülkenberg last year.
Hülkenberg clearly had his teammate under control, winning the qualifying duel 15:7 and the race duel 13:9. This was mainly because Magnussen couldn’t get as much out of the car with his driving style as the Emmericher.
Magnussen likes to take speed into corners. To do this, he needs a car that can handle the transition from braking to turning well – and the Haas VF-23 couldn’t do that. Instead, he lost stability.
However, this suited Hülkenberg, who drives more in a V-style: he brakes harder, then turns sharply and then accelerates again.
“With this car you can’t combine the G forces so much,” Magnussen said during the season. “You have to take the corners more with a V. And these are the two different driving styles: V-style or not.” Magnussen continued: “This year’s car is even more susceptible to this on our side.”
Worked on weaknesses in winter
The upgrade at the end of the season suited Magnussen better, while Hülkenberg switched back to the old version because it suited him better.
Over the winter, Haas worked to fix last year’s problems. This should help Magnussen in particular to improve his form, says Komatsu.
“I wouldn’t say we’ve eliminated them, that’s a big word,” he says when asked about the problems Magnussen faced last year. “But we’ve definitely improved.”
“He is a driver who needs good stability at the entrance and constant handling in the corner,” said the Japanese.
Komatsu: No bullshit with the drivers
He says he has a good working relationship with his two drivers and expects they could make good progress together if they were honest with each other.
“I’ve known Kevin for a few years now,” he says. “I really enjoyed working with Nico last year. I didn’t know him before,” said the team boss, who can, however, look back on an earlier incident with the German: When he was still at Lotus as Romain Grosjean’s engineer, Hülkenberg came to one Seat adjustment.
The two have now known each other for a year, and Magnussen has known each other for even longer. “They both know that I’m pretty direct. I say what I think. Not aggressive or anything, but no bullshit. We just don’t have time to waste,” Komatsu said.
“They know exactly where I am, where they are, and we work well together. As far as our strengths and weaknesses go, we understand each other pretty well. We have a good, open and transparent dialogue, and I’m very happy with that. “