By Joe Murphy
Kevin Magnussen has been told to be realistic over his targets for 2024, by none other than the new Team Boss.
Haas have been the team to really have a true shake up over the winter break with senior staff departing the company. Moreover, the long-term future of Haas in F1 continues to come under scrutiny and, with both drivers’ contracts up in December, there are many questions to be answered at the American outfit.
https://wheel2wheelreports.com/2024/02/15/who-is-nearest-to-red-bull-mercedes-ferrari-or-mclaren/
Haas are expected to have the slowest car on the grid when the season kicks off in Bahrain in just under a month’s time. Therefore, any optimistic targets both Magnussen and teammate Nico Hulkenberg have made are set to be curtailed. At present, getting a point across the season seems ambitious, as unfortunate as that is to say for fans of the constructor.
To a different extent, the same can be said at McLaren. Oscar Piastri may have had one of the best rookie seasons we have seen recently, however the higher-ups at McLaren have already conceded that the orange car won’t be challenging just yet.
https://wheel2wheelreports.com/2024/02/13/is-norris-or-piastri-the-future-of-mclaren/
Therefore, if Oscar or indeed Lando think they will be challenging Max Verstappen regularly through this season, then they should think again. The true battle will be with Mercedes and Ferrari for P2, whilst also closing the gap to Red Bull. Some amongst the Piastri camp think a maiden F1 win could be on the cards, although others think even a podium could be a rarity. Testing will tell us which is more likely to be the case.
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