Haas play down 'extensive' imminent upgrade

Haas Trackside Engineering Director Ayao Komatsu has played down the potential upgrades set to be added to the car at the United States Grand Prix.

The team has endured a difficult campaign so far with its tyre woes leading to a lack of pace on race day despite strong one-lap pace, particularly in the hands of Nico Hulkenberg.

Just 12 points have been scored by the German and teammate Kevin Magnussen with Haas eighth in the Constructors’ Championship.

Despite the major alterations that are set to be installed on the VF-23, Komatsu told media including RacingNews356.com: "Officially, we’re not really expressing it as a B-Spec car.

“It’s a bodywork change, sidepod inlet, floor, so it’s pretty extensive. We’re not doing front wing or rear wing but the aero characteristics are very different to what we’ve got here.”

Upgrades focused on next year’s car

With just six races remaining this term, focus for most teams has switched completely to next year to try and make a leap in performance over the winter.

Explaining how the Austin upgrades will assist in the making of its challenger for next season, Komatsu said: "It’s quite a big update package.

“We’re doing it - a different concept - so we learn as much as possible as well, so to do that learning in this year ahead of launching next year’s car is quite big.

“I cannot say for certain in terms of out-right quali performance or race pace performance that we’re going to go 'x'-amount quicker.

“In terms of learning and having different characteristics of the car, I think we have done quite a lot."