Haas F1 faced a significant setback at the Monaco Grand Prix as both of their cars were disqualified from qualifying due to their rear wings exceeding the 85mm slot gap allowed under FIA regulations. The disqualification came as a shock to the team, which had to face the consequences of what was later identified as a ‘communication issue.’
Team boss Ayao Komatsu revealed the series of events that led to this unfortunate mistake. Both Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen qualified in P12 and P15, respectively. However, the FIA regulations are strict, and the rear wings of their cars, when open, exceeded the allowed 85mm slot gap. Komatsu explained that the mistake stemmed from a lack of communication between the design team and the trackside engineers.
Guenther Steiner, the former Haas team boss, didn’t miss the chance to mock his old squad. He posted on Instagram, ‘Does anybody want to borrow my tape measure?’ highlighting the gravity of the situation in a somewhat light-hearted manner. The issue arose due to a new rear wing design introduced as part of a few upgrades this season. However, the trackside team wasn’t adequately informed about the new design’s assembly requirements. The designers failed to communicate the necessary checks for the new wing, which led to the oversight.
Komatsu admitted, ‘If the designers had made it absolutely clear that the design intention was slightly different from the wings you have been using before, so you have to check it in this way, that would have helped.’ He further added that despite the communication gap, ‘There was no performance gained, absolutely zero, but that’s not the point. The car has to be legal. So, we just have to accept this as a failure of the team, and then learn from it, and make sure we don’t make the same mistake again.’
The disqualification means that both Hulkenberg and Magnussen will have to start from the back of the grid in the race. Komatsu emphasized the importance of not making any assumptions with new parts and ensuring all legality surfaces are checked thoroughly. ‘For the trackside people, if they had had that highlighted it would have helped. But even without that, with a brand-new rear wing, just don’t assume anything. You just have to check every single legal surface: that’s what we should be doing.’
Despite the setback, the Haas team is determined to move forward and avoid such mistakes in the future. Komatsu acknowledged a bit of complacency and assumptions that led to the error and stated, ‘We just need to improve working as a team.’ The situation is particularly critical for Magnussen as he may be facing the end of his F1 career. Rumors in the paddock suggest that Esteban Ocon could be talking to Haas F1 for a potential move, although no official statement has been made.
To rectify the issue, the team has received approval to adjust the current rear wing mechanism to fit within legal parameters. This will allow both drivers to start from P19 and P20 instead of the pit lane. When asked about the adjustment, Komatsu mentioned, ‘It’s the same wing, but we can adjust it. With the DRS open gap, there is a mechanism to adjust it for where you are going to get to the maximum.’
As Haas looks for a chaotic Monaco Grand Prix to possibly claim their first points of the season, the quest for improvement continues. The team hopes such incidents won’t be repeated, especially with the strong competition and tight regulations in Formula 1.
Haas F1’s disqualification in Monaco serves as a stark reminder of the importance of clear communication and thorough checks in the high-stakes world of Formula 1. The team is committed to learning from this mistake and ensuring such errors do not occur again.
