Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Haas VF-23. 29.07.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 13, Belgian Grand Prix, Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, Sprint Day.
Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner has explained the side will continue to bring upgrades to its 2023 Formula 1 car in a bid to understand the direction needed for next season’s package.
Haas has endured a problematic 2023 campaign to this point, only scoring nine points across the first 12 rounds to sit eighth in the Constructors’ Championship.
The team’s failure to build on the early promise it showed in this regulation cycle last year has stemmed from excessive tyre degradation troubles with its VF-23 car.
While winter recruit Nico Hulkenberg has progressed to Q3 in qualifying on six occasions, he has only translated that into a singular points-scoring finish on a Sunday.
However, with Haas in an intense fight with Williams and Alfa Romeo for seventh place, Steiner asserts that the American outfit will continue to bring new parts for the remainder of the year, also with the view to developing the baseline for its 2024 car.
“We have got some upgrades coming for Zandvoort, on the brake ducts and front wing, but the team is working flat out to make some modifications to the car which will be coming later on in the year and I can’t give an exact timeline because of the shutdown,” he said.
“We keep on working, and there are two reasons for this.
“Firstly, to try and make the car go quicker as you always do with upgrades but also to know the direction for the VF-24, which is as important, if not more important.
“There’s a lot of hard work going on, it’s almost as intense as being in December developing the new car.”
Kevin Magnussen (DEN) Haas F1 Team with Guenther Steiner (ITA) Haas F1 Team Prinicipal on the grid. 30.07.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 13, Belgian Grand Prix, Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, Race Day.
Haas rounded out a disappointing first half of the year without a points finish on a Sunday in seven rounds, dating back to Kevin Magnussen’s 10th place in Miami in May.
It marks the worst run of any team, with F1’s latest entry only adding to its points tally courtesy of Hulkenberg recording a sixth-place finish in the Austrian Sprint Race.
But Magnussen has backed Haas to get back on track once racing resumes, citing McLaren’s mid-season resurgence as a reason for the side to retain optimism.
“I think it’s clear that we didn’t finish the first half of the season the way we wanted, so we’re all super eager to make a comeback during the season,” Magnussen added.
“I think we can do that, we’ve seen some teams making good steps and that’s actually been motivating as much as it’s been annoying. It shows that if they can do it, we can do it too and I think that’s the mentality we’re going into the second half of the season with.
“I feel we as a team are in a good spot, but with the car, we’re a little behind so I’m looking forward to the challenge and looking forward to working hard to get to where we want to be.”
The 2023 F1 season will continue after the summer break at the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend, kickstarting a run of 10 rounds in 14 weeks to complete the year.
Keyword: Steiner explains why Haas will continue to develop 2023 F1 car