Forward of grand prix qualifying at each Method 1 race, the mechanics throughout the grid should full a job they only can not get fallacious.
That is to strip two vehicles down after every FP3 session or dash race and construct them again up once more, whereas incorporating the ultimate set-up changes and repairs required by their drivers and engineers.
On a typical non-sprint weekend, the entire course of should be accomplished in simply 150 minutes.
“It’s probably the most essential issues we do,” Matt Thompson, primary mechanic for Nico Hulkenberg at Haas tells Motorsport.
“It is the final time you possibly can truly work on a automobile. As soon as the automobile is in parc ferme, you possibly can’t contact it, you possibly can’t change something…”
On the current Mexican Grand Prix, we noticed precisely how this course of is carried out at Haas, in addition to studying simply how fraught it may be if the sudden rears.
The countdown clock tells all
Workforce members of Haas F1 Workforce at work within the storage
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Photographs
We arrive behind the Haas storage simply in time for FP3 to conclude in Mexico Metropolis.
Lingering ideas from the story we’ve simply been submitting on the information of the weekend – F1 driving requirements within the wake of Max Verstappen’s cynical ways deployed once more at Austin the week earlier than – must wait. There’s a lot to pay attention into on the Haas communications channels.
Neither VF-24 is within the storage at this stage – their nonetheless out on observe on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez within the palms of Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen.
However the chequered flag has simply fallen and as they return to the pits the order for “double cease” observe is issued by Haas workforce supervisor Peter Crolla, sat apart workforce principal Ayao Komatsu on the pitwall far in entrance of our vantage level.
Hulkenberg will get again first and is serviced with a fast tyre swap earlier than being pushed out of the best way so Magnussen may also obtain the therapy. Crolla and Komatsu solid intense eyes on proceedings.
The 2 vehicles are then rapidly wheeled and again in “wheels and bodywork off” directions are issued by Elliot Parkes, the primary mechanic for automobile 20 (Magnussen), and Thompson for automobile 27 (Hulkenberg). A further name for a “T-Tray take a look at right this moment if doable” from Thompson pricks our ears given the furore over this half at Pink Bull the earlier week in Texas.
Elliot Parkes, Haas mechanic
Photograph by: Haas F1 Workforce
“But it surely’s a routine factor that we all the time should do,” he later explains. “You all the time have to ensure the automobile’s authorized.”
Instruments grasped, our bodies slung over and below these multi-million-pound machines – the Haas crew is ablur in motion.
Eight minutes into the enshrined timeframe for his or her most essential work of the weekend and Magnussen’s automobile up is on its stand. Three minutes later, the engine cowl below Hulkenberg’s quantity 27 sticker is eliminated, with Magnussen’s rapidly afterwards. But it surely takes till 12 minutes post-FP3 for Hulkenberg’s automobile to affix its sister in being raised up off the bottom.
A countdown clock on the storage lining screens declares: “lunch snacks 12.45”. That is simply to let the mechanics know they’ll get one thing to eat over the occasion’s lunch break – a sedate affair for principally everybody in F1 besides these motley bands at every workforce – in paddock hospitality once they get an opportunity.
With the bodywork off every automobile, chunky yellow padding is positioned alongside the sidepod-lining radiators. That is to “shield us from the warmth, but in addition protects us from damaging the radiators as nicely”, explains Thompson.
“Think about for those who simply dropped one device on it,” he provides. “Then you definitely’ve bought a leak earlier than you realize it and one other enormous job to do in that two-hour interval.”
Not fairly quarter-hour into this vital interval and the huge drum coverings are off the brakes on Magnussen’s automobile, their orange sponge coating inside revealed. Shortly after, with but extra engine cowl panelling stripped from each vehicles, Magnussen’s crew is instructed by Parkes that “as soon as the t-tray take a look at is completed we’ll drop all the way down to examine the ground as there’s a few bits I would prefer to make good from final night time”.
Parkes and Thompson are working by their checklists through a devoted chatroom on their computer systems. This has colour-coded directions for what has been ordered from the Haas engineers when it comes to set-up changes, in addition to the everyday checks, substitute work and repairs, and to indicate what of this has been accomplished or not.
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On the 27-minute mark post-FP3 – the plank off is faraway from Magnussen’s automobile. A meaty, smoky odor abounds – the results of this half being scrapped at as much as 217mph across the Mexican observe.
“We all the time take it off to measure it and examine, as a result of we will work out skid wears and stuff like that from there,” Thompson explains. “After which, clearly, we match model new stuff for qualifying to offer us the very best probability of our calculations being authorized on the finish of the race.”
Arriving at 30 minutes post-FP3 and ground and diffuser have come off automobile 20, however notably not the 27. Magnussen’s ground is carried out the again of storage by two mechanics – a darkish chalk outline-like silhouette that betrays the immense scale of those fashionable machines like no different.
Right here, Hulkenberg’s automobile fires up. Its wheels rotate slowly on its stand as techniques are analysed for faults by engineers, a beast virtually pawing the bottom, whereas a hose pulls the fumes away from the mechanics. However Magnussen’s received’t do the identical for almost an hour.
“Usually, it is scheduled to be on the identical time,” says Haas chief mechanic, Toby Brown. “However whoever’s prepared first, you simply get on and do it. You may need one thing else to do later.”
With Hulkenberg’s automobile silent once more, a staffer from Method One Administration arrives to examine the rear digital camera on automobile 20. He does his work on the system inside as soon as the quilt has been eliminated for him.
Nearing 40 minutes post-FP3 and there’s a lot adjustment to automobile 27’s entrance wing occurring at entrance of the storage, below supervision from Hulkenberg’s engineer, Gary Gannon.
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Workforce, and Gary Gannon, Race Engineer, Haas F1 Workforce
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photographs
He explains the “actually fraught” legality checks that should be performed on the set-up changes which have are available in for qualifying. That is after the post-FP3 debrief that has occurred between the drivers and engineers behind the storage within the enormous tents that additionally double as workforce hospitality items for this race.
Right here, Gannon is particularly ensuring those utilized to the entrance wing match within the containers FIA scanners will later invisibly venture and take a look at post-qualifying, so the workforce is not caught out as Williams was with Alex Albon’s ground discovered to be too vast again at Zandvoort. Some margin should be left on each adjustment, however doing so means risking lacking efficiency.
Gannon says this may typically come all the way down to a 0.01mm adjustment.
We’re simply noticing how calm all the pieces is – little wasted chatter – when a Paddock Membership tour is introduced in. Much more gawping ensues.
Then, because the one-hour-mark post-FP3 approaches, Magnussen’s automobile all of a sudden sits alone – guidelines full. However on the opposite facet of the storage, there’s appreciable work occurring with Hulkenberg’s automobile, which nonetheless has its ground on.
“We had a number of repairs to do as nicely and a small brake difficulty, which we needed to exchange,” explains Thompson. “So, it wasn’t like an enormous quantity, however all of the little issues simply add up.
“Nico additionally had a imprecise query in regards to the brakes. So, you possibly can’t simply go into the race understanding you’ve got bought a imprecise query, are you able to? It’s a must to take each precaution doable and simply work from there.”
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Workforce, within the storage
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photographs
Whereas this is occurring, Brown is nonchalantly scrolling by a 3D map of Haas’s braking techniques on a display within the center financial institution of computer systems and standing desks that break up the workforce’s storage. To his proper, the cockpit of 20 automobile is pleasingly casually hoovered to take away the mud and detritus that’s significantly an issue at this venue.
Because the mechanics attain 63 minutes into their allotted 150, the ground is lastly off Hulkenberg’s automobile. Right here, a brand new aspect arrives within the type of an FIA scrutineer making a fast evaluation of this automobile’s engine cowl. Minutes after he’s swiftly departed, there are extra inspections from totally different officers.
This time, there are checks beneath Hulkenberg’s proper sidepod which can be repeated on the left-hand facet of Magnussen’s machine. Recognizing telephones being shoved into the respective neighborhood, Brown explains how scrutineers are scanning QR codes for value cap compliance on numerous components utilizing a devoted app. They’re checking that these have been purchased and invoiced accurately by the workforce.
It is now 70 minutes post-FP3 and the brake drums are actually again on automobile 20, whereas 10 minutes later the ground is fitted again on its sister – simply as a Sauber automobile fires up noisily within the neighbouring storage to our left.
A short time later, a 3rd FIA scrutineer arrives. This one prods and pokes Magnussen’s beam wing vigorously, at one stage shoving an entire finger right into a gap. After shifting to ruffle the Dane’s rear wing he shares a joke with Brown.
“I do know them – a few of them, very nicely,” he says. “As a result of I’ve labored with them beforehand. It is best to have a very good relationship with these individuals.”
Because the 100-minute post-FP3 approaches, Magnussen’s ground is carried again by the storage and fitted again on. It’s at this stage a plate of quesadillas is delivered to Hulkenberg’s facet of the storage – two of his mechanics did not have an opportunity to eat earlier. They lastly accomplish that whereas they work, the restrict of this job unrelenting.
Subsequent, workforce proprietor Gene Haas wanders by the scene, shortly earlier than the bodywork is lastly all again on Hulkenberg’s automobile.
Ayao Komatsu, Workforce Principal, Haas F1 Workforce, Gene Haas, Proprietor and Founder, Haas F1 Workforce
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Photographs
As we hit 120 minutes since FP3 has ended, it’s time to reverse what this era is named. It’s all of a sudden gone amber with new hype on the stress not one of the Haas crew are displaying pressure below – the display clocks ticking down from a brand new 30-minute timer forward of qualifying. Changes to some components – suspension, for instance – are not doable if the automobile concerned goes to make it out for Q1’s graduation.
With 28 minutes to go, the scrutineers are again – this time to place stickers on numerous bits of each vehicles, primarily across the entrance wing, rear wing and ground.
“Since you’re below parc ferme circumstances, these objects you possibly can’t change after that time,” explains Brown.
“And there is sure components of the ground that bolt on and off, so you may change them [illegally, without the stickers’ protection].
“A current one which they’ve began doing is placing stickers on the skids on the finish of qualifying and so they come examine earlier than the race. As a result of, I assume, another groups have been altering the skids. You’ll be able to’t do this…”
With 27 minutes to go, the bodywork is now all again on Magnussen’s automobile, whereas right here Hulkenberg’s is lowered to the bottom. Bodywork sealing tape utilized, his mechanics begin clearing their workstations of assorted instruments and containers.
Workforce members of Haas F1 Workforce at work within the storage
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Photographs
However with 26 minutes to go, it is all of a sudden all motion round Magnussen’s automobile. Having been by far the better job on this event, there’s a twist.
“Simply as we closed all the pieces up, somebody from [team engine supplier] Ferrari mentioned they’d like to alter one thing that they’d seen on the opposite automobile, which wasn’t fairly proper,” Parkes explains.
“It was a little bit of a late name. There wasn’t actually a lot time left, so we took the bodywork again off to get entangled.”
Whereas this motion is ongoing to his proper, Komatsu walks again by together with his headphones on, steely competitor’s glint in his eye. However 5 minutes later, the late work is full on Magnussen’s automobile and it too is lowered to the bottom.
Getting to fifteen minutes out and the amber workforce screens flip an offended crimson, at which level Crolla addresses the squad as soon as once more. It’s so near consideration going again out on observe and the intense stuff of each F1 weekend.
Because the 10-minute mark pre-qualifying arrives, Komatsu alerts the entire workforce about what’s anticipated all through the upcoming session, the place each vehicles will attain Q3.
Ayao Komatsu, Workforce Principal, Haas F1 Workforce, a teammate within the storage
Right here, Hulkenberg saunters again into storage. He’s weighed and places his balaclava and helmet on – round last discussions together with his crew and Gannon. A couple of minutes later, Magnussen does the identical factor.
Three minutes out, the tyres are fitted for Q1 and the qualifying fire-up course of can kick off once more – this time for actual motion for the VF-24s. The employees devoted to honing their respective states can solely stand again and watch because the outcomes are available in, this vital course of full…
When this course of will get actually difficult
“FP3 was fantastic, all the pieces was fully below management,” Thompson concludes as he recollects probably the most intense FP3-qualifying course of Haas has had to date in 2024.
“The job record was fairly small; all the pieces was simply too easy. After which 10 minutes earlier than the session, we realised one of many rain lights wasn’t engaged on the rear wing and it is like, ‘OK, nicely, it is in all probability only a gentle that might have failed’. So, we checked the sunshine, wasn’t that. Traced it again to a different wiring fault. And once more, clearly, you are in parc ferme after so we needed to repair it.
“Our wing swap usually takes half an hour, however we solely had 10 minutes to do it. Everybody simply needed to pile in collectively, cease their regular jobs and simply assist change the wing. And I believe we made it out 30 seconds late or one thing. However, up till that time, it was fairly relaxed and easy.”
“The workload, I would say, is greater,” Parkes says of how at Haas, the efforts made to alter engines and gearboxes on Friday evenings post-FP2 at non-sprint weekends truly imply a higher record of duties to finish in comparison with what we’ve simply noticed.
“However after FP3, it is simply vital you do not make any errors…”
