Haas has been the first team to show its livery for the 2023 season at the Formula 1. He has done it through a model on social networks that does not give any clue beyond the main change: the car turns black.
The new VF-23 has black sidepods and the rear of the car, returning to the original color they started with in the ‘Great Circus’. Despite this, they maintain the white of recent years at the front.
Being a model, The American team has given no clues about its chassis or engineso the first impressions will have to wait for the pre-season tests in Bahrain that will take place from February 23.
“We head into a new season buoyed by some strong performances from the team last year and a return to scoring points. The goal for 2023 is to do it more consistently and with Magnussen and Hulkenberg, I certainly think we have an experienced driver pairing more than capable of delivering those points on a Sunday,” Gene Haas said in a statement.
The support of Ferrari, a joy for Haas
Haas has one more reason than last year to hope for an improvement in performance: Ferrari’s support. The announcement of the arrival of Audi with Sauber (and the departure of Alfa Romeo) makes the Americans now the second Ferrari-powered team, relegating the Alfas to third position.
In this way, the improvements to the Italian engine will reach Haas earlier and will be able to make a small leap in quality compared to last season in which Alfa Romeo took all the confidence of Ferrari.
Kevin Magnussen, for another great season
The Dane returned at the last minute in 2022 to replace Nikita Mazepin and his performance could not have been better. He collected two-thirds of the team’s points last season and took the historic first pole position for the Americans at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
With a year of readaptation to Formula 1, Magnussen must climb one more step and fight for points more assiduously. Of course, he will have to avoid the already known conflicts with his teammate. With Grosjean he had them while with Mick Schumacher the relationship was cordial, but now comes Nico Hulkenberg, a driver with whom he doesn’t get along particularly well.
Nico Hulkenberg, a comeback in his last chance
The German was chosen to replace Mick Schumacher. The son of the seven-time world champion was left without a place due to his multiple accidents and his poor ability to score points. That is precisely the goal Haas asks Hulkenberg: bring the car to the garage and with remarkable performance.
And it is precisely what characterizes Hulkenberg. The veteran driver does not usually make mistakes and finishes most of the grands prix, and his experience replacing Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin last season confirms that he still has the speed to be competitive.
