Haas hoped to capitalize on the momentum seen during the first day of private testing in Barcelona on Wednesday. But as is often the case in pre-season testing, the American team had to contend with a delicate task: measuring real progress while managing reliability-related interruptions.
HAAS: Visible progress before a setback
For its second authorized day of driving, Oliver Bearman was back behind the wheel of the VF-26. A session which was primarily intended to continue learning, but which was disrupted twice by technical problems, one of which caused a degree of concern within the team.
Despite these setbacks, the team manager Ayao Komatsu Haas was keen to highlight the progress made since the car's first appearance on Monday. They approached the day with confidence, convinced they had resolved several initial issues.
“We had resolved so many issues since Monday. On track today, I saw a huge step forward compared to the first day, and that’s very positive.” ", has explained Komatsu.
This optimism, however, did not withstand mechanical problems. The program of Bearman was interrupted both in the morning and afternoon, forcing the team to revise its schedule.
While the first problem proved relatively manageable, the second was deemed more serious. Without going into details, due to confidentiality, Komatsu did not conceal his vigilance.
"The one in the morning doesn't worry me. However, the one in the afternoon is more serious. We are analyzing precisely what happened and how to resolve it." », He admitted.
For HaasHowever, the fact that this issue arose early in the program is a blessing in disguise, offering some leeway before the official tests and the start of the season.
Back on track afterEsteban Ocon ensured the initial taxiing, Oliver Bearman delivered generally encouraging feedback. The Briton was discovering the car on a dry track for the first time.
« It was the first time I could really push the car in those conditions He explained.
Bearman praised the energy management and increased agility of the VF-26, a direct consequence of the weight reduction brought about by the new regulations.
Absent from the circuit on Thursday morning, Haas has chosen to temporarily suspend its tests in order to thoroughly analyze the problems encountered. All indications are that Friday will mark the end of its program in Barcelona.
In a context of major regulatory upheaval, the American team prefers to proceed cautiously: understanding the car and ensuring its reliability before seeking pure performance.
