After George Russell’s descent during qualifying for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, it was clear that the rain that started at the same time would no longer undercut the first times on dry tires. For the Haas team, however, it was perhaps the longest minutes of all time: Their protégé Kevin Magnussen was provisionally on pole, but there were still about eight minutes on the clock.
“I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I could see that nobody would improve the lap,” says team boss Günther Steiner. “People who know Formula 1 know: When it starts raining, how do you plan to improve your time?”
“It was pretty obvious to me, I was more like what else can happen? Maybe you could get a black and orange flag now or something so you can have your bones taken away again. I went down and checked the front wing and the FIA on it kept away!” jokes Steiner.
“It was a joke, I didn’t do that. But that’s more to think about, what could still go wrong. Then George walked out. And it seemed like it would take forever for them to tow the car. He wanted not getting out of the car and stuff like that. But I was pretty calm because I saw the radar and it said it was going to rain in the next 30 minutes.”
Steiner: “One must never give up in life”
Even Magnussen himself in the cockpit felt like celebrating because he too knew that nobody would improve on the wet track. For Haas, the pole in Brazil is the greatest success in the team’s history.
This is also a great moment for Günther Steiner personally: “I’m working hard for it, but personally I’m happy for the team because I always tell the guys that we have to work hard and believe in ourselves,” said the Haas team boss.
“And then the results will come. They came. I showed the lads that if you believe in what you do, you can do it and that you can never give up in life. We had difficult years that we got through , and now we can build on those things.”
Haas victory in the sprint? “You never know
“After the 2021 bankruptcy season, when the conscious decision was made to put everything on the new regulations for 2022, Haas has reached its peak, although Steiner urges caution, because the important points are only there in the sprint on Saturday and the main race on Sunday .
“I mean, this year has been better, but it’s up and down again, and that’s, I would say, an overperformance compared to where we’re normal. We’re aware of that,” says Steiner. “But it shows that if you work hard and people make an effort, and if the opportunity is given, you get the result.”
“Of course that gives you confidence for the future, that everything is possible. Tomorrow [im Sprint] I hope that we can stay in the points. Of course we won’t win the race, I’m not a dreamer either, but you never know. But staying in the points is the most important thing for us. We have to focus on keeping eighth place in the championship because that’s very important for us.”
Haas is currently one point ahead of the ninth-placed AlphaTauri team, which in turn will start from 12th and 19th in the sprint race with Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda. Although it is not exactly likely that the Dane will win the fuel, nobody can take the pole away from him under the new rules.
Does Haas have a chance in the rain?
“Yes, it’s symbolic,” says Steiner. “And for sure, if we stay in the books like I say, if we stay in the story, that’s a beautiful thing. What’s that worth? I don’t know. But it’s something the team has accomplished , and Kevin achieved it, it’s a beautiful thing to have.”
“I want to say that this is a great moment and I hope that I’ll experience a better moment, it’s not over here,” hopes Steiner. Perhaps the Haas team will create an even greater sensation in Brazil, because one thing in particular is to be expected for the remainder of the weekend: rain.
When asked about the chances in the wet, Steiner remains cautious: “I don’t want to go too far here. I believe in myself, but I’m not arrogant, I’m not a dreamer. Of course we’ll do our best, like we did today to have.”
“If the opportunity arises we will try to do a job that we can get, but I don’t know if that will happen. But of course it would be an even better story.”
The incredible story of qualifying will most likely be featured in the Netflix documentary “Drive to Survive” in spring 2023, as Steiner confirms that the Netflix crew came to Haas after the session. “They came after. They always show up because they’re like flies,” jokes the Netflix star. “And I think I’ve had enough with them this year.”