Nico Hulkenberg insists that Haas must progress in 2024, pointing towards the team’s regression over the last twelve months. According to the 36-year-old, Haas was fortunate to score points at the beginning of the year.
When Hulkenberg’s return to F1 was announced last winter, there was plenty of scepticism. Many argued that his career results weren’t impressive enough to justify a comeback.
However, this narrative quickly dissipated in the early rounds of 2023. The German driver performed immediately, securing a top-10 grid slot for the Bahrain GP in the VF-23.
He would repeat this achievement on several occasions, demonstrating genuine qualifying prowess. Instead, the critics have shifted their focus to the team itself. In particular, attention has shifted to the lack of mid-season development.
BAKU CITY CIRCUIT, AZERBAIJAN – APRIL 30: Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-23 during the Azerbaijan GP at Baku City Circuit on Sunday April 30, 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Mark Sutton / LAT Images)
Speaking after a troublesome season, Hulkenberg was honest about the situation at Haas:
“Obviously, it was a process, and signs were there early in the season,” he told the media.
“But we got away with it early in the season because other people also were struggling more.
“And then once they cleaned up and brought some real developments – that’s when we really started to pay the penalty.”
In other words, Haas again became a casualty of the relentless F1 development war. This is a relatively common occurrence for Guenther Steiner’s team, who are struggling to establish themselves.
Looking ahead to 2024, competition is set to rise for the American outfit. AlphaTauri is likely to make a significant forward step, with even Williams showing signs of ambition.
With investment and resources still a limiting factor at Haas, becoming a regular point-scoring team could be difficult. With both Hulkenberg and teammate Kevin Magnussen on expiring contracts, it will be interesting to see how they feature in the driver market.
Opportunities will present themselves, and it is now an open secret that Alfa Romeo approached the LeMans winner over the summer.
In any case, Haas will hope to prove themselves when next season begins in Bahrain.
Author: Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
