Haas team boss Günther Steiner has stated that last week’s 18-inch tire test was “very important” for the team, as it wants to advance to Formula 1 in terms of the new regulations for 2022.
Over the next year, Formula 1 will switch to 18-inch wheels as part of a wider range of vehicle changes to close off the competition at the top of the field and allow for more races.
After the British Grand Prix, Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher shared the duty to complete 222 laps on 18-inch tires in a modified 2019 car at Silverstone, while Haas supported Pirelli with its development program.
In recent years, pre-season and in-season testing has been reduced to reduce costs.
But Steiner says that Haas, who are on a smaller budget compared to their competitors on the grid, are a “serious team” looking to gather their own information about the new tire specification.
“With reduced tests it is [the tyre test] is very important, ”said Steiner. “It’s a big change in general over the next year and we need to get our own understanding and data.
“The drivers have to get an impression of the new tires, get a feel and give us feedback.
“Generally speaking, building a hybrid car that’s a converted 2019 car isn’t free, of course, but it’s worth it.
“We’re a serious team and that’s part of it to prepare for the future. As we all know, we are working very hard towards 2022 to get us back to where we were – we have to do that – and it is well worth the effort to get there.
“This is very valuable information for the drivers to get a feel for and for the team to get some data.”
The Haas drivers Schumacher and Mazepin have already driven the 18-inch tires because they used them full-time during the 2020 Formula 2 season.
This year, Pirelli will carry out two more tests with the new tires from August 3rd to 4th in Budapest and from September 15th to 16th in Magny-Cours.
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