Haas Secures Magnussen and Hulkenberg for 2024 F1 Season

As the 2023 season progresses, Hulkenberg and Magnussen currently occupy the 14th and 18th positions in the drivers’ standings, while Haas stands at the eighth spot in the constructors’ championship with 11 points. The first half of their campaign was notably marked by challenges arising from in-race tire wear issues, which limited the team’s opportunities to score points despite consistent promising performances in qualifying sessions.

Guenther Steiner, the Haas team principal, expressed his confidence in the existing driver lineup: “I think it’s safe to say that we’ve had an extremely solid driver pairing this season in F1 and ultimately there was no reason to look to change that moving forward.” Steiner praised both Magnussen and Hulkenberg for their contributions to the team’s progress.

Magnussen, with an extensive history of 113 starts for Haas, brings invaluable experience and insights to the team. Steiner highlighted his familiarity with the team’s strengths and organization, emphasizing the value of his knowledge.

On the other side of the garage, Hulkenberg’s seamless integration into the team did not go unnoticed. Steiner praised his performance and experience, noting that Hulkenberg’s approach to his almost 200 starts in Formula 1 made him a valuable asset to the team.

The synergy between Magnussen and Hulkenberg was evident from the beginning, leading to impressive results, including point-scoring finishes. Steiner particularly highlighted Hulkenberg’s exceptional qualifying performances, with six appearances in Q3.

Both drivers are evidently enjoying their time in the sport and exhibit maturity and understanding in their roles. Their constructive feedback has significantly aided the team’s engineering objectives throughout the challenges of the VF-23.

As Haas looks ahead to the 2024 season, Steiner emphasized the team’s responsibility to provide a competitive car capable of consistent point-scoring performances.

The announcement of Haas retaining its current driver pairing was made ahead of the media day for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. While the official statement did not disclose the length of the drivers’ contracts, it mentioned that Hulkenberg and Magnussen have been signed for the “record-breaking 24-race calendar” of the next season, with continuity being a key element in the decision.

In 2023, Magnussen was nearing the end of his “multi-year” contract signed after replacing Nikita Mazepin in the previous season. Hulkenberg’s contract, while not explicitly designated as multi-year, was understood to include an option for the 2024 season, indicating that further discussions will likely be held to extend their tenure at Haas beyond the upcoming year.