Haas Introduces New Pitot Sensor in an Effort to Address Tyre Wear Issues
Haas Formula 1 team has unveiled its latest effort to tackle its ongoing problem with tyre wear during races. The team hopes that a new pitot sensor, introduced on its VF-23 2023 car, will provide crucial data to understand the root cause of the issue.
Throughout the current season, Haas has struggled with severe tyre wear, which has resulted in high grid positions turning into disappointing finishing positions, especially when running in traffic. Nico Hulkenberg, who qualified second at the Canadian Grand Prix, finished in 15th place due to the tyre wear problem. Following the race, Hulkenberg expressed his belief that the issue is more complex than just a setup problem, calling for a longer-term strategy to address the problem.
In response to this, Haas introduced a new pitot static sensor on the middle part of the nose of the VF-23 car at the Austrian Grand Prix. The team explained that the new sensor has a lower aerodynamic disturbance and improved functionality for data analysis. According to the team, the pitot static sensor is a crucial instrument for acquiring accurate aerodynamic data in wind tunnels and under any race conditions.
It is understood that Haas hopes that the data collected by the new sensor will provide insights into the tyre wear issue. Kevin Magnussen, who has also experienced the team’s tyre wear problem, described it as a more fundamental issue than just the car’s setup. He noted that the current regulations are different from previous years, making it difficult to pinpoint a specific area on the car as the cause of the problem.
Magnussen also highlighted that the operating window of the VF-23 is narrow, leading to inconsistent performance during different sessions. He emphasized that the tyre wear problem is amplified when running in traffic or on bumpy tracks.
The introduction of the new pitot sensor is seen as a crucial step for Haas in its quest to address its tyre wear issues. The team hopes that the collected data and improved functionality of the sensor will provide valuable insights that will allow them to develop a longer-term solution. As the season progresses, Haas will be closely monitoring the performance of the sensor and analyzing the data to further refine their understanding of the tyre wear problem, with the ultimate goal of improving their race performance.