F1 launch season underway with Haas VF-24 reveal

Haas has become the first team to reveal its challenger for the upcoming F1 season with the launch of the VF-24.

The American-owned team provided a first look at the new car livery with its digital launch, attended by new Team Principal Ayao Komatsu and drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen – though a full look at the new machinery will have to wait until track action begins.

Both drivers were hamstrung by tyre overheating issues last season despite impressive qualifying performances – especially for Hulkenberg – and with results leaving the team at the bottom of the Constructors’ standings, Guenther Steiner’s contract was not renewed.

The car with which Haas hopes to turn around its fortunes is predominantly black, with only the nose cone painted this colour. The rest of the black is exposed carbon fibre, perhaps pointing to potential weight concerns for the team.

The black is supported again by white and red, though in a much smaller quantity to last season. Red flashes along the sidepods, front wing and rear wing act as a tertiary detail to the white, which adorns the halo and a significant area on the top face of the sidepods.

Haas enter new season with ‘realistic’ expectations

Chairman and owner Gene Haas said: “I’m looking forward to seeing the VF-24 running and racing – a sentiment I know I share with our partners and indeed the entire team.

“In Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen, we also know we’ve got a great pair of drivers behind the wheel, their experience will prove
invaluable again as we develop our program through the year.

“We’ve used the off-season to put the processes in place to be better and ultimately improve our overall performance. Soon we get to see how we’re doing.”

Komatsu added: “We’re realistic about our expectations for the VF-24 to start but it’s still an exciting moment in any Formula 1
season to showcase the car.

“There’s a lot of work ahead of us to make progress and increase our performance but everyone here is highly motivated and eager to get on track with the VF-24.

“I know we’ll be maximizing our time in Bahrain with all the various items we need to push through. Bottom line, we can’t wait to get going and get the season underway.”

The new season gets underway with the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday, March 2, with pre-season testing also taking place at the Bahrain International Circuit on February 21-23. Haas will run a shakedown on February 11.