Haas has retained drivers Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg for the 2024 Formula 1 season.
Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg will remain with Haas through 2024, the team has announced ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix.
Both drivers only had contracts through the end of the current season, and Haas decided to lock down their lineup for 2023 well in advance of the season’s finish.
Haas has had a hit-and-miss year while frequently displaying unexpectedly quick qualifying times. Having not previously participated in a full season of race action since 2019, Hulkenberg particularly has been exceptional over one lap since making his return to Formula 1.
This season, the German has consistently appeared in Q3, which highlights his one-lap performance in the midfield team.
Haas has struggled to get points, as they frequently lost ground in the races. The American team is now tied for seventh place in the Constructors’ Championship with Williams on 11 points, while Alfa Romeo are only two points behind them.
The seasoned Magnussen and Hulkenberg, with whom team boss Guenther Steiner has been quite impressed, will finish in the top 10 if the team boosts their race pace.
“I think it’s safe to say that we’ve had an extremely solid driver pairing this season in Formula 1 and ultimately there was no reason to look to change that moving forward,” Steiner said to Sky Sports F1.
“Kevin is obviously a very well-known quantity to us, and I’m delighted he’ll return for what will be his seventh season in Haas colours.
“With 113 starts for our team alone, we know where his strengths lie and his knowledge and experience of our organisation pairs very well with that too.
“On the other side of the garage, Nico’s simply slotted in without fuss or fanfare and proved himself to be a valuable member of the team.
“He’s approaching 200 starts in Formula 1 and we’re very happy to be the beneficiary of that experience behind the wheel.”
Hulkenberg has been one of the season’s biggest stars despite the fact that no one was entirely sure what to anticipate from him before his return.
He actually outperformed his fellow Haas driver, and he currently holds 14th-place in the Drivers’ Championship with nine points.
The seasoned German is pleased that his deal till 2024 has been finalized so quickly since it will help him stay focused.
“It’s nice to get things sorted early for next season to just keep the focus on racing and improving performance,” Hulkenberg said. “I enjoy being part of the team and share Gene and Guenther’s passion for it.
“We’re competing in a very tight midfield and I’m looking forward to building on what we’ve done together so far and taking that forward into 2024.”
Magnussen, who appeared stronger in 2022, hasn’t had the finest of seasons in 2023.
Despite the fact that he has only collected two points during the first 12 races, he is sure that he can work with the team to secure a better spot for the car towards the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024.
“I’m obviously very happy to see my relationship with MoneyGram Haas F1 Team extended once again,” Magnussen said. “My return in 2022 had been unexpected but was filled with numerous highlights, and although this season hasn’t gone quite as we’d hoped.
“We’ve still managed to get into the points and shown potential in the package we have.
“There’s plenty of racing remaining in 2023 and we’ve got a lot of work to do to continue to understand the VF-23 – that learning can be applied into the 2024 car.”
