#Formula 1: The Haas team to retain Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen in 2024

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Formula 1: The Haas team to retain Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen in 2024

Kevin Magnussen (left) and Nico Hulkenberg (right) will remain with the Haas team in 2024 The Haas team will keep Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen as their drivers for a second Formula 1 season in 2024. Team principal Guenther Steiner said: "We've had an extremely solid driver pairing this season and ultimately there was no reason to look to change that." Both Hulkenberg and Magnussen are vastly experienced drivers whose careers were given a lifeline by Haas. Steiner said their feedback had been "invaluable" in a difficult 2023. Magnussen made a surprise return to F1 in 2022 after a year away when Haas' Russian driver Nikita Mazepin was dropped on the eve of the season following the invasion of Ukraine. And Hulkenberg, who had not had a full-time seat since being dropped by Renault at the end of 2019, was drafted in by Haas for 2023 when the team dispensed with Mick Schumacher after his sophomore season, preferring a more seasoned, proven quantity. Hulkenberg has particularly impressed this season, having a comfortable edge over Magnussen in qualifying - including a season's best second on the grid in Canada in June - and scoring the team's best finish with seventh in the third race of the season in Australia. Haas have struggled converting sometimes strong qualifying results - Hulkenberg has been in the top 10 in six of the 12 races so far - into points finishes because of the car's heavy tyre usage. Upgrades for this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix, where the season resumes after a summer break, are intended to make a start on addressing this issue by reducing the heat going into the tyres from the brakes. Steiner said: "Kevin and Nico gelled well right from the get-go and together they've both scored points, and in particular, Nico has excelled in qualifying - getting into Q3 on six occasions. "Having not raced in Formula 1 full-time since 2019, that shows you just how professional he is and how he's looked after himself physically. "Of note is also just how much energy both drivers bring to the table, they've been fantastic not only in terms of their engagement within the team, but critically, in our partner activations and fan facing opportunities." Hulkenberg said: "It's nice to get things sorted early for next season to just keep the focus on racing and improving performance. "I enjoy being part of the team and share Gene [Haas] 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 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." via BBC Sport - Formula 1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/

#F1 #Formula 1: The Haas team to retain Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen in 2024 #Formula 1

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Haas retain current line-up for the 2024 F1 season

Haas retain current line-up for the 2024 F1 season By Balazs Szabo on 24 Aug 2023, 11:00 Ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, Formula One's only American team Haas have announced that they will compete the 2024 F1 season with an unchanged driver line-up. Haas have confirmed that they are set to retain Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg for the next F1 season. Magnussen rejoined the American team last season while Hulkenberg was drafted in to take over the seat of former Formula 2 champion Mick Schumacher. Haas have had an up and down season so far, displaying some eye-catching qualifying performances. However, Hulkenberg and Magnussen have constantly fallen back in races as the team has suffered from high tyre degradation. “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,” said Team Principal Guenther Steiner. “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. “We’ve had to tackle our issues this season with regards to the VF-23, we don’t hide from that, but we’ve been extremely fortunate to have had two drivers whose feedback is invaluable in assisting our engineering objectives. “Kevin and Nico gelled well right from the get-go and together they’ve both scored points, and in particular, Nico has excelled in qualifying – getting into Q3 on six occasions. “Having not raced in Formula 1 full-time since 2019 that shows you just how professional he is and how he’s looked after himself physically. Of note is also just how much energy both drivers bring to the table, they’ve been fantastic not only in terms of their engagement within the team, but critically, in our partner activations and fan facing opportunities. “Kevin and Nico are clearly enjoying their time in the sport, they both have mature heads on their shoulders, and they fundamentally understand what it is we’re asking of them. “In turn, now it’s down to us as a team to look ahead to 2024 and ensure we have a car that’s capable of scoring points consistently.” Magnussen added: “I’m obviously very happy to see my relationship with MoneyGram Haas F1 Team extended once again. 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. My thanks, as always, go to Gene Haas and Guenther Steiner for giving me the opportunity to keep racing in the sport I love.” Hulkenberg said: “It’s nice to get things sorted early for next season to just keep the focus on racing and improving performance. 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.” The duo will resume the 2023 season, following F1’s three-week summer break, when they get behind the wheel of the VF-23 at Zandvoort for the third-running of the Dutch Grand Prix via F1Technical.net . Motorsport news https://www.f1technical.net/news/

#F1 #Haas retain current line-up for the 2024 F1 season #Formula 1

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'It's my home in F1' Magnussen and Hulkenberg pleased to continue with Haas into 2024

Team mates Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg have given their reactions to the media following the announcement that the veteran pair will be racing in Haas colours once again next season. Magnussen is in his second stint with the team, having previously signed in 2017, before leaving at the end of the 2020 season. He re-joined the American outfit at the start of the 2022 campaign, meaning that next year will be in seventh in Haas colours. PADDOCK INSIDER: Haas choose experience and stability in pursuit of the next step When it was put to him at the drivers’ press conference ahead of this week’s action in Zandvoort how long he had been with the team, Magnussen remarked: “Seven seasons, it sounds like a lot. Didn't feel like that many.” Reflecting on the extension, which Magnussen said took a “simple” negotiation with Team Principal Guenther Steiner and the team’s owner Gene Haas, he added: “Very happy to continue. We have a job to do right now. “It would be really fulfilling to see the progress into next year that we are working on right now. I know this team very well, it’s my home in Formula 1. It's great to have another year.” Magnussen will be entering his seventh season with the team in 2024 When asked to expand on his reflections about Haas' progress for next season and whether they can get to the front of the midfield, Magnussen replied: “I think so. It's so tight that I think every team feels that they can do that. “We've seen some teams make very big progress this year and we haven't really done that. We've kind of stalled in our development with the car. We are in a very good place as a team, in a place that we haven't really been in before. READ MORE: Haas retain Magnussen and Hulkenberg as drivers for 2024 “I think it is a very healthy team right now, but we are under-delivering on the car. And I think there are all the ingredients that we need to make that step forward. “And I think we can do that probably this year, hopefully, but certainly into next year, there should be a good chance.” Hulkenberg was pleased to sign an extension with Haas which he believes was a long time coming Hulkenberg, however, is in his first year with the team, following a three-year spell on the sidelines as reserve driver. And after a strong start to the season – in which he's scored nine points and sits 14th in the championship – the German revealed how pleased he was to continue his “relationship” with Haas into next year. LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the build-up ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend “Yeah, it’s good, good news obviously,” said Hulkenberg. “I think it has been a while coming. I think all the signs were for us to continue the relationship, the partnership, so happy to have it done and announced.” On the negotiations with Steiner and Haas, Hulkenberg said: “Yeah, it was smooth sailing. I think they were happy so far with me, so we will do a few more dances together!” via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com

#F1 #'It's my home in F1' – Magnussen and Hulkenberg pleased to continue with Haas into 2024 #Formula 1