Haas marked the first team to unveil the livery as well as the contender they will run for the upcoming 2024 F1 season in a virtual launch.
The Haas F1 Team officially unveiled the VF-24, which will be raced by seasoned team drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen for the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship.
The team unveiled digital renders of the VF-24 ahead of the 2024 F1 season and upon initial review, the car’s design appears to be an upgrade of its predecessor, with a predominantly black livery complemented by red and white accents.
The nosecone is decked out with a huge USA flag, which represents the team’s American identity. Haas continues to be the only American operation on the grid for the coming years after F1 rejected Michael Andretti’s entry earlier this week.
The unveiling marks a major step as the American squad seeks to deepen its relationship with title sponsor MoneyGram, a pioneer in international banking technology. The MoneyGram logo along with the names of other important partners such as Haas Automation, are prominently featured on the VF-24 livery.
Additionally, Play’n GO, a leading supplier to the casino sector, is stepping up its partnership with the team this year and offering a greater oversight over the car, team and driver assets.
According to the renders, the car’s technical design consists of a pushrod front suspension and a pullrod rear suspension, just like the 2023 model. It also features a front wing and a highly-ramped sidepod profile, which continue to serve as the significant upgrades made to the previous VF-23, which Haas brought to the US Grand Prix in October last year.
Haas F1 Team Chairman and owner Gene Haas voiced his anticipation for the 2024 season and emphasized the vital expertise that Magnussen and Hulkenberg provide towards the team’s progress.
“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,” Gene 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.”
The car will make its track debut on February 11 at the Silverstone Circuit, driven by Hulkenberg for a shakedown run before the team heads to Bahrain towards the end of the month for pre-season testing.
The team’s performance declined last year as they finished in the bottom three spots for the second time in the last three seasons, dropping from eighth place in the constructors’ championship in 2022 to tenth place overall.
A new era for Haas F1 has begun with the change in team leadership and technical direction, with Andrea De Zordo taking over as Technical Director.
Ayao Komatsu, who was recently named Team Principal following Guenther Steiner’s exit, provided insights into the VF-24’s development as well as the organizational changes made within the team to promote a unified and successful approach to car development.
Komatsu pointed out the progress made in the wind tunnel as well as the strategic role drivers will play in the car’s development. He was also forthright about the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead.
“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,” Ayao 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.”
