Haas F1 are to run a “parallel” testing program in Barcelona as they look to choose a brake supplier for the upcoming season.
The American outfit enjoyed an incredible start to life on the grid, with Romain Grosjean scoring top six finishes in Australia and Bahrain, but were unable to maintain it as tyre warm-up and later persistent brake problems blighted their progress.
Most notably hit was Romain Grosjean. After being unable to start in Singapore because of a brake-by-wire failure, the Frenchman crashed out in the early laps of the Malaysian Grand Prix and had another incident during Friday practice in Japan.
His then teammate Esteban Gutierrez was also impacted following a failure which forced him to retire in Austin.
Investigations were undertaken by Brembo, the supplier they had used since the start of the season, but without conclusive answers, Haas trialled Carbon Industrie brakes in Brazil and Abu Dhabi.
Now, with pre-season testing set to begin on February 27, team boss Gunther Steiner has said both companies are still under consideration to be used this year and that plans were in place to make a decision.
“On the brake supplier we will do a parallel program and then find out which way to go,” he told ESPN.
“We are going to make a decision after Barcelona test. We are ready to use either-or for the race season, so we are prepared to have options — that was always our goal.
“We didn’t say we ditched somebody, we just wanted to see what else was out there and have options if one showed to be a lot better. It could be either-or, we don’t know yet.”
What is complicating the situation for Haas is the radical design changes coming for 2017. A large increase in downforce will completely change the braking profile of F1 cars with shorter braking distances but more energy potentially going through the system.
Steiner revealed this was one of the major reasons why the team had not made a final decision on which brake material to use.
“You are absolutely correct. We couldn’t test our brakes like they needed to be for this season, last year, so we planned for having the option.
“Last year we came to the conclusion the other material was good as well so we just need to double check everything for this year.
“The brakes are bigger now, the discs are wider, thicker. We just need to check the material and make sure it all works. The best way is always to have an option if you can, and that’s what we did.”
