Despite the messy Haas-agony: Unbelievable start

MELBOURNE (Ekstra Bladet): On paper it looked both Haas-drivers in this year's first qualification. The team utilized that Red Bull messed up with Pierre Gasly, as Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen will start sixth and seventh on Sunday morning.

But in fact it was a little messy qualification for both of them with several mistakes along the way.

In the Danish side of the garage meant a blunder in the very first attempt, that there was only a set back to the counting place at the very end, which had the words ‘lorteomgang’ from hr. Magnussen.

Both he and Romain Grosjean felt that there was even more in it. Not enough to catch the Ferrari, as nearest rival, but nonetheless very positive for the coming time.

- I am well satisfied with this start of the season. We have been hopeful with regard to our potential, but it is always nerve-racking before you can prove it on the field. What we did today. We see again good notes, Kevin Magnussen, en Ekstra Bladet speak with him in Australia.

- Over the winter it has been a great challenge with the new rules. It is mind-boggling that this team can continue to be as competitive as we were today.

- I should have easily been through on a set of tyres in Q1; it was my fault. Then you have only one shot in the Q3, and it was not pretty. I am very, very happy with the car, as the team has given us at the start of the season.

- It is crazy to think that there are other cars that are faster than the here, for it feels very, very fast, " says the dane.

From the French side of the garage there came an echo of the roses to the VF19’eren.

- the Baseline is very, very good, " says Romain Grosjean.

Grosjean beat his Danish teammate. Photo: Ritzau Scanpix

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- We knew we were strong, the car felt good during the test, and we knew where the big margin we had in the motorindstillinger. We turned up a bit during the third training session, so we got a feel for the speed and brake points. And slap it all loose during the qualification, he says.

Mercedes was the fastest team in front of Ferrari, but otherwise featured the running time on more surprises to seen with Grosjeans eyes.

- the Red Bull was faster than we expected. And both the Racing Points and Lando Norris reached in Q3. The rest was more or less as we thought.

- We didn't know how close we were in the Renault. But it is not a course, they have been good in the past. If you look at how close it was in Q2 ...

Just the extremely dense its center - two-tenths separate Sergio Perez on the far mandate in Q3 and Daniil Kvyat as 15’ - highlights how good Haas-racer is.

That there is still some margin.

- It is a good indication, when both are there together. That you actually are strong. It is not about a magical place. Or a magical setup for the track. Usually, it shows that the car is pretty good, says team boss Günther Steiner.

in Addition to the Haas qualified three other teams together. Mercedes in the front, Renault just outside the top ten, and Williams as sovereign closers.

the Australian Grand Prix runs on Sunday from at 6.10 local time.

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