Haas hopeful Singapore can mask 2023 weakness

Kevin Magnussen believes that Haas's low fuel qualifying pace coupled with the difficulty in overtaking at the Singapore Grand Prix could help the team end its points drought.

The VF-23 has proved a fast machine over a single lap in qualifying in 2023, with Magnussen qualified fourth in Miami, but on race day, the car struggles with heavy tyre degradation and falls back.

A huge new upgrade package, with an eye on 2024, is coming for the United States Grand Prix, but Magnussen believes this one-lap pace put together with the tight streets of Marina Bay could put Haas in a good position.

In Free Practice 2, Magnussen was ninth fastest and team-mate Nico Hulkenberg 11th, with the Dane just behind Max Verstappen on the time-sheets.

Magnussen hopeful

"We got some goo data and hopefully it makes a difference," Magnussen told media including RacingNews365.

"I still don't think our long run pace looks fantastic, so there's obviously a lot more work to do, but we're just trying to do the best we can and get everything out of it.

"It is still hard to overtake [with the track changes], so hopefully, we can get a good qualifying and the low fuel pace looked decent.

"I do think some of the other cars were using lower power, some were not showing their hand yet, but hopefully we can have a good qualifying here and because it is hard to overtake, maybe that will be more meaningful."

Magnussen also addressed that track changes that Lewis Hamilton described as 'perfecting' the circuit, saying he also preferred the new layout.

"I prefer this layout without the two corners because they are slow, and maybe there is a small opportunity to pass into Turn 16 if you are half-attacking into Turn 14," he said.

"Maybe you can finish it off in Turn 16 and then if not, it is going to be slightly easier to be close into Turn 1 because you don't have those corners."