Haas Hits Jackpot With Double Points In F1 Austrian GP

Haas has often performed strongly at the cozy Red Bull Ring and once more the squad had a bonanza payday Sunday.

Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen started from ninth and 12^th respectively and avoided trouble on the opening lap to slot into positions inside the top 10. Both ran a two-stop race and Hulkenberg was able to undercut the second Red Bull of Sergio Perez, with the late drama elevating him into sixth place. The German resisted the late charge of Perez – on fresher tires – to collect sixth spot, with Magnussen holding off RB’s Daniel Ricciardo to score eighth, giving Haas a haul of 12 points from Sunday’s race. It means Haas has surged up to seventh in the Constructors’ championship and has already exceeded its points tally from the entire 2023 campaign.

“It was one hell of a race, especially at the end when it got so intense,” Hulkenberg said. “It was touch and go to keep Perez behind in the last two laps, he came by but into Turn 3 I let him edge in front, so I got DRS, which obviously put me back in front. I’m very happy, that’s double points for the team which helps in a big way. I didn’t expect that, an amazing team performance, and I think it’s confirmed now that in the midfield on all different types of tracks we’re competitive, we can fight, and that’s really great news.”

Magnussen was also buoyed by the result, commenting: it’s been a smooth weekend – two qualifying sessions with no traffic, two good pit stop in the race, and the strategy has been spot on – I couldn’t have asked for more.”

Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu was similarly elated at the outcome.

“I’m just so happy for everyone in the team,” Komatsu said. “Sometimes we get unlucky but today our execution was amazing, Nico and Kevin drove well, and pit stops were good, everything was great. I’m speechless, I’m just so happy for everyone to get this result and for Nico to beat Perez on merit, that’s a huge statement.”