By Joe Murphy
There hasn’t even been a testing car on track yet and already it’s a rocky start to the season for Haas. The charismatic character of Guenther Steiner has departed, to the shock of many. To compound the misery, the team that finished stone dead last in 2023 has been called out for its lack of investment in the factory by that same man who used to make those very decisions.
So, what is the best that Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg can hope for in 2024? Well, the first thing is stability. There’s a new man in charge in the role of team boss in Ayao Komatsu and there have been other changes throughout the ranks aswell. The good news for Haas is that they have two of the most experienced drivers on the grid. However poor the car may be in terms of performance, you’d expect the Dane and the German to put that car there or there abouts in terms of lower points positions.
It’s also about looking forward. The dark days of Mazepin and Schumacher are firmly in their rear-view mirror and it’s now all about focusing to ensure a car that doesn’t look out of place on the grid. Improvements are sure to come and with regulations changes from the year after next, a closer field should make the entire sport more competitive. Great news, especially for the team that came tenth a few months back.
The final thing Haas can hope for is a change in mentality. For too long, they had been happy with lower points positions. Long gone are the days where Haas found themselves alongside Red Bull and Ferrari. And those days didn’t last that long either. The changes that have taken effect already are sure to be followed by more. These alterations won’t result in overnight success, but following a long term plan should reap its rewards eventually.
With a long term spot on the grid the plan for Gene Haas, not being isolated from the rest of the pack will be critical to a successful campaign this year.
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