Haas F1 Team: Looking for another Top 10 finish in Mexico

After securing seven points in Austin, courtesy of drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen, Haas will look to build on that momentum as they push to consolidate their P6 standing in the 2024 FIA Formula 1 Constructors' Championship.

Haas arrives in Mexico in an unfamiliar position of strength, having edged ahead of their closest rivals, VCARB. This represents a stark turnaround from the previous season, where the team finished at the bottom of the standings.

The team's upward trajectory has been fueled by the leadership of new Team Principal Ayao Komatsu, whose direction has sparked a resurgence in form, enabling Haas to consistently fight for Q3 appearances on Saturdays and points finishes on Sundays.

Upgrades to the Haas VF-24, introduced at the Circuit of the Americas, proved effective and are expected to continue benefiting the team during this demanding triple-header, which kicked off last weekend in Texas.

In his team's preview, Komatsu said: “Mexico provides a unique challenge due to its high altitude. The thin air means it’s tough on cooling and reduces downforce significantly. The circuit has plenty of low-speed corners with some heavy braking.

"We normally have very poor grip levels in FP1, combined with a lack of downforce, so it’s a big challenge for both drivers and engineers to get on top of it quickly. Following on from our strong performance in Austin, we’re looking forward to this challenge and for another top 10 finish," ventured Komatsu.

Nico Hulkenberg, fresh off a points-scoring performance in Austin, said of the second leg of the season's Americas tour: “Mexico City is the second stop of my favourite part of the season. The culture is so vibrant, and the fans in the Foro Sol stadium are guaranteed to make some noise.

"Even if they save the biggest cheers for Checo,” Hulk said, referring to home favourite Sergio Pérez. “It’s an interesting track and another good challenge. We‘ll be ready for it.”

Kevin Magnussen echoed his teammate's sentiments, emphasizing the unique atmosphere and technical challenges of the Mexico City circuit: “Mexico is a fun city, a fun track, and a fun event, it has an amazing atmosphere with the Mexican fans.

"The stadium section is a phenomenal part of the race track. It’s unique with the thin air, it’s tough on the cars for cooling, and aero-wise it’s a difficult venue. I think we’ve had some good and bad races here in the past but our car is in a good place, so there’s no reason why we can’t score again," added K-Mag.

With two more races to go in this triple-header, Haas is focused on maintaining their newfound form and continuing their rise up the F1 Constructors' standings as they aim for another strong points finish in Mexico.