After a disappointing 2023, Haas F1 Team have undergone major changes. They will of course be making efforts to put in better results in future, but what can 2024 realistically have in store?
Following a poor 2023 season, MoneyGram Haas F1 Team finished 10th in the constructor’s championship with 12 points - a stark contrast to their best result of 5th in 2018 - after struggles with tyre wear made it difficult for them to maintain pace on race days. Of course, disappointing results mean less prize money, giving Haas less opportunity to improve their performances and making surviving the season all the more difficult. So, what might 2024 mean for them? What changes and improvements could be made throughout the years to help Haas take a step up from the bottom of the table?
A New Team Principal:
Haas F1 Team heads into 2024 with new Team Principal Ayao Komatsu, following the departure of founder Guenther Steiner.
On the 10th of January, Haas F1 Team announced the appointment of their new team principal Ayao Komatsu and the immediate departure of previous team principal Guenther Steiner. This comes after news that the team’s technical director Simone Resta has also left the team, leading many to speculate about the team’s motivation and direction in recent years.
Find out more: Guenther Steiner leaves Haas F1 after 10 years with Ayao Komatsu announced as Team Principal
In a statement posted on the team’s X account (formerly twitter), Team Owner Gene Haas thanked Steiner and set out goals for the future, saying “we need to improve our on-track performances. In appointing Ayao Komatsu as Team Principal we fundamentally have engineering at the heart of our management.” Komatsu also made a comment on his promotion to Team Principal, stating that he is “passionately invested in [Haas F1 Team’s] success in Formula 1” and reiterating the importance of improving on track as he stated he is “looking forward to leading our program and the various competitive operations internally to ensure we can build a structure that produces improved on-track performances."
Of course, only time will tell as to whether this change of leadership is what Haas needs to get things looking upwards, but it seems many at the team think Ayao Komatsu is just the right person for the job.
Contract Expirations:
The 2024 season also marks the end of both Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg’s contracts, meaning Komatsu, Gene Haas, and the rest of the team’s leadership will have some tough decisions to make about the direction they want to take. While Magnussen and Hulkenberg are both drivers with a lot of experience to bring to the table, Haas may also want to consider younger names that could have something to offer when it comes to helping the team to rebuild and achieve better results. One such name that could be suggested in contract talks for 2025 is surely Oliver Bearman, Formula 2 driver for PREMA Racing and a member of the Ferrari driver academy, which could be very relevant considering Haas’ links to Ferrari and use of their engine. After completing two FP1 sessions and taking part in post-season testing for the team in 2023, Ollie will have made an impression on higher-ups at Haas, and he is sure to be someone on the team’s radar for 2025 if he continues to put in good performances in Formula 2 this year.
Bearman came 6th in the 2023 FIA Formula 2 Championship, winning 4 races.
Creating Machinery to Compete:
Haas’ 2024 car will be unveiled before a shakedown test at Silverstone on the 11th February, ahead of pre-season testing starting on the 21st in Bahrain. Following a year of fairly one-sided results, it seems the 2023 car just didn’t suit Kevin Magnussen, who scored 3 points compared to his teammate’s 9, so focus for the new season will surely be on creating a piece of machinery which works for both drivers, giving the team the best opportunities to compete and score much-needed points.
Haas before pre-season testing in 2023 with the VF-23 car 📸 RacingNews365
However, it seems unlikely that the 2024 car will provide a huge jump in performance from previous years, due to the team’s budget, their change in concept late in 2023, and the gap between back marker and midfield teams to Red Bull at the front. But, if things begin to look up for them then the next regulation change in 2026 could provide an opportunity to progress up the standings.
The next few years could prove essential to Haas’ journey in Formula 1. With so much changing in the team and the rest of the sport, it will be fascinating to see if any progress can be made to move up the standings and improve performance - only time will tell.
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