Formula 1 | Haas F1 has unveiled its design for the 2023 season
Haas F1 is the first of the ten F1 teams competing in the 2023 season to unveil its new design, although we’ll still have to wait before discovering the “real” VF-23, possibly on February 11 (see below see).
The new title sponsor MoneyGram, which now appears in the team’s name, logically occupies a prominent place, allowing the evolution of the structure now owned by Gene Haas to the budget ceiling.
After two difficult seasons in 2020 and 2021, the American team has regained its colors with the arrival of new aerodynamic rules, where it is betting everything to find a regular top 10 in races. But given the potential seen at the start of the season, eighth place in the Constructors’ Championship is still a bit of a disappointment.
In 2021, the team led by Günter Steiner decided to rely on two rookies, a first since its debut in the discipline in 2016. But after the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Nikita Mazepin was forced to leave and leave his place. surprise dream Kevin Magnussen, therefore teamed up with Mick Schumacher, who is playing his second season. Unfortunately for the German, he lost this year’s place to compatriot Nico Hulkenberg.
VF-23 supplies
As expected, the new design features new partner and title sponsor MoneyGram prominently featured on the VF-23’s engine cowling. It appears in white on a completely black background with the brand symbol in red. The partner is also evident in the completely red front wing.
The Haas F1-specific white remains on the nose and front of the single-seater, but black now dominates, especially at the rear. The team logo appears on the sides in white on a black background, then on the rear spoiler in white on a red background.
We can also note that the pilot’s number is black on a white background on the nose of the VF-23, then white on a black background on the engine cover, and the front of the nose is red as the front spoiler.
All HD images are available here.
Shake up next week
The Haas F1 Team will take flight for the first time in a real VF-23 at Silverstone on Saturday 11 February. We expect real photos the same day!
The goal will be to constantly evolve the peloton in 2023
With the driver duo in their thirties amassing 322 Grand Prix starts, Haas F1 now hopes to take the next step in 2023, meaning finishing in the points more regularly than last season. Because in 2022, the American team finally finished in the top 10 in just seven of the 22 races it contested, and that despite starting the season with a bang in Bahrain, with Magnussen scoring a brilliant fifth for his comeback.
At the end of last season, Steiner showed himself to be very confident with his new team: “I think we’ve got a few more years with these guys because they’re not that old. One’s 30, one’s 35, so don’t retire them too soon!”
Haas F1 will need it for the 2023 season to be considered a success “We always fight in the middle of the pack. We fought well last year, but there were ups and downs. So we want stability in this pack to improve.”
“The short-term goal is to get the team back to where we want to be. At least in the middle of the pack and if possible at the top of it for the next two years.”
Magnussen: Hulkenberg is exactly the driver we need
Back to Magnussen and Hülkenberg, no one has forgotten their friendly exchange after the 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix, when the Dane invited the then Renault F1 driver to do something we’ll refrain from translating here.
But as the Dane explained, bygones are bygones and Hulkenberg is welcome in Haas F1: In 2017, everyone is talking about our small business in Hungary, but I actually have a lot of respect for it.”
“Even before he joined our team, I said I had a lot of respect for him as a driver. He will bring a lot of experience. Everyone knows that experience in Formula 1 is invaluable. He has always been one of the best drivers and one of the most consistent, average can get good results in a package car. That’s exactly what we need here.”
Finally, is stability necessary to succeed and continue in F1?
Along with a reliable and experienced driver duo, Haas F1 can count on the unwavering support of Ferrari, which continues to supply it with powertrains and allows space for its technical department at its factory in Maranello.
We can also mention the retirement of Magnussen’s new race engineer, Mark Slade, at the end of last year. Did he play a leading role in the incredible pole position won in Brazil? Anyway, their union looks very promising.
All these ingredients together seem to indicate that, from a business, technical and sporting point of view, Haas F1 finally has the stability needed for any Formula 1 team to succeed. And so Steiner thinks it’s time to start moving up the hierarchy.
Origin of car name: Haas F1 VF-23
The origins of the Haas F1 name go back to their owner Gene Haas and his early days.
In 1988, Haas Automation produced their first CNC machine, which they called the VF-1, the letter V standing for vertical, which is the industry standard designation for a machine that works upside down and vice versa. The F-1 was added by Haas to unofficially refer to it as ‘First’.
As a result, Haas F1 continued this tradition with the 2016 launch year VF-16, the first single-seater to join the VF. This naming convention has continued ever since, and the 2023 car will therefore be called the VF-23.
