Magnussen cautious over declaring Haas problem 'fixed'

Kevin Magnussen is cautious over Haas' start to the Formula 1 season, believing it is too early to declare its tyre issues "fixed" but believes the hard work over the winter is starting to "pay off".

In Australia, Haas scored a double-points finish with Nico Hulkenberg ninth and Magnussen 10th for the team's first two-car haul finish since the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix.

It is the second time in three races the team claimed points after Hulkenberg's 10th in Saudi Arabia in a promising start for the team under new boss Ayao Komatsu.

The 2023 car had been plagued by tyre wear issues but the initial feedback on the new machine is that the issue has been solved with both drivers able to push on their tyres and not suffer the drastic drop-off in performance.

"The performance this year in general has been encouraging," Magnussen told media including RacingNews365.

"We were able to get both cars in the points, and okay, we were helped by a few people crashing out, but that is part of the game too.

"We beat some of the cars that we're in the constructors' battle with, we started behind one [Stake] and one Williams - and finished ahead of those.

"The virtual safety car [for Hamilton's retirement] didn't help me, but we worked as a team, and finished with two cars in the points and with decent pace.

"The car has a bigger window, it has not necessarily got more downforce, it's just more usable downforce and it is now good in more than just one condition.

"New tyres, low fuel last year was okay, but we really struggled in the race, so the team has focused in that direction over the winter, so it is really cool to see it pay off and we just need to continue like that and go further in that direction.

"I don't think we can say the whole season is fixed, but it is encouraging so far and we want to keep going."