Kevin Magnussen hailed the early decision to switch to slick tyres as “amazing” after a strong Hungarian Grand Prix.
With the track drying from a pre-race rain shower, Haas made the call to pit at the end of the formation lap for dry tyres with the majority of the field waiting a few laps into the race.
The call would prove inspired as Magnussen and teammate Romain Grosjean ran third and fourth when the order shook out after the initial pit-stops, with the Dane able to hold on for ninth place and his first two points of the season.
“I’m so happy. The team made an amazing call before the beginning of the race – on the formation lap, to call for the slicks,” he said in the paddock.
“It was really strong for them to give me that trust, to put me out on dry tyres in conditions that weren’t easy. It was pretty risky, but it worked out. The pace was there and having started from the pit lane, after a few laps I was in P3.
“I knew that wouldn’t be our final placing, but it was amazing to be up there in the race. I just tried to hang on to it as much as I could.
“I kept working with the team regarding where realistically we were going to be. In the end, it was P9 – I held on to it and we had opened the gap to a Ferrari and then kept the McLaren away as well.
“It shows what a good car we had in the race. It’s proved that the team has done an amazing job even though we’ve been struggling a little bit in qualifying.”
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That position is under threat now, however, with the stewards investigating both Haas drivers over a potential breach of regulations during the formation lap.
Though there’s nothing specific, their report mentions Article 27.1 which states the driver must drive “alone and unaided”.
