Yahoo Autos Haas kicks off F1 launch season with VF-24
Haas has become the first Formula 1 team to reveal its 2024 car with the digital launch of the VF-24 ahead of its shakedown at Silverstone on Feb. 11.
The new car was only shown via digital renders released by Haas on Friday, with an evolutionary approach to the car that was developed last season and a similar tweak to the predominantly black livery. New team principal Ayao Komatsu says the car is not a radical departure that is likely to move the team rapidly forward, but hopes it provides a platform for progress.
“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,” Komatsu said. “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.”
Komatsu says the 2024 car is a further step on from the upgraded design that was introduced at the United States Grand Prix last October, with bigger changes able to be made under the bodywork.
“In terms of physical changes, as everyone knows, when we made the upgrade in Austin that was the concept towards this year’s car — but because we had the physical limitation of the side impact structure, rad-duct arrangement, and cooling arrangement, we couldn’t do the full-blown VF-24-type-concept. I knew exactly where we were going for this year, but everyone saw a preview in Austin.”
Haas finished bottom of the constructors’ championship last season and the result led to Guenther Steiner’s departure as team principal, with team owner Gene Haas keen to measure any improvements through the season.
“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,” Haas said. “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.”
