As opposed to the first two teams I have discussed, Haas found a large step forward for 2022 and the new regulations. Frankly they needed it, given they had sacrificed 2021 solely for that purpose. As a result, 2023 must be about them trying to keep that momentum going forwards, and not slipping back to last place.
Haas are the smallest team on the grid, which will make their task very difficult. In 2022 it was clear that they were at their strongest in the first few races, where other teams were still trying to get to grips with their new beasts. Haas were lucky that Magnussen, on his return to F1, was able to do so well in those initial races.
That being said, there was also a mid-season renaissance on the high-speed tracks of Austria and Silverstone, which was where Schumacher was able to show what he could do. The worrying thing about that though, is that they ended the season without much to shout about. Yes, the pole position in Brazil was incredible, but that felt like an outlier. For Haas’s sake, we have to hope that the reason for their slump, was that they were already focusing on 2023.
It may sound too early to do so, but the team may well have learnt a lot in those opening few races and realised that there was an awful lot that needed doing to improve the car. However, in order to do so, it required some fundamental changes to the design philosophy, and so couldn’t be implemented on the 2022 car.
The other slight positive for Haas, is that there was the potential for more points. Mick couldn’t maximise the car on some tracks, especially the early races, like Kevin could, and there were a few races where Magnussen’s exuberance cost the team points. All that being said, it is going to be hard for this small team, to develop at the same rate as the larger operations around them.
Having talked about the potential sale of Alpha Tauri yesterday, Haas are possibly in a similar position, although I doubt, they will be quite as keen to sell, given it is not their second team. It would probably only happen if they got an incredible offer.
Haas might be a team of a similar size to Williams, but their relative pace compared to Williams, means they are in a better position to utilise the benefits of the new regulations sooner. It is the management of resources, both in terms of overall cost cap, but also wind tunnel and CFD time, that really levels the playing field. That is the beauty of the shift in F1 that has occurred, a small team could keep up with a huge operation, just by using a few crucial tools in a better way.
The 2023 driver line up could be another strength of theirs, neither driver may be in their prime, but the experience both have, will allow for stronger development for the future of the team. Hulkenberg especially won’t be a long-term plan for the team, given simply his age, but right now, Haas need a driver who can jump in a car and score points, which he should be able to do.
You would also think that both drivers will be clever enough to not spend the year fighting with each other and ensure the best for the team. At the end of the day, both drivers will know they aren’t going to progress to a stronger team in the coming years. They don’t need to prove themselves, they just need to try and not be fired, and the best way to do that is to not cause controversy within the team.
I foresee 2023 being rather like 2022 for Haas, where they are able to have a great car on certain types of tracks but can’t be consistent over a full season. Frankly that might be the best route for them to take to score points over a season. This will get them 9th in the constructors I believe, which to be honest is where you would expect them to be. Magnussen will likely beat Hulkenberg, mainly thanks to his experience from 2022.
-M
Meaning of Motorsport 