As the holidays return to F1, the big news is the renewal of the duo Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkemberg with Haas
For many, a kind of bucket of cold water. Someone even suggested the American team as a possible landing place for a Brazilian like Pietro Fittipaldi (reserve driver) or even Felipe Drugovich. Gene Haas lack of courage? After all, sticking with two veteran pilots?
While it may seem like a conservative approach, it makes sense to Haas. 2023 was another year for the restructuring of the team, taking advantage of the new regulations and the arrival of new sponsors. The Money Gram stamp on the cars allowed Haas to think more confidently about the future.
After the experience of 2021, when Haas had two rookies, the team was concerned with technical return and obtaining better results, at lower costs. Kevin Magnussen’s choice to replace Nikita Mazepin in 2022 was indicative of this path. Hulkemberg was one more brick in this structure to assemble a solid structure.
In recent times the team has strengthened its staff, using the existing structure in Maranello, commanded by Simone Resta. However, the team still suffers from not having such a quick scheme for updating the car, as well as suffering from the same problems as Ferrari, especially in tire management (Haas uses an Italian engine, gearbox and suspension).
Hulkemberg’s stay was taken for granted. The German is an expert driver who has shown that he has the pace to give, qualifying well, but suffering in the race precisely because of Haas’s persistent problem of melting the tyres.
The one who had doubts was Magnussen himself, a driver who experienced a sensational 2022 in the face of the circumstances that arose, culminating in pole position at Interlagos. But this year the Dane was outclassed by his teammate.
Incidentally, this was one of the doubts: how would this duo work? After all, Magnussen’s “Suck my balls” for Hulkenberg has become a classic. But the expected animosity has not manifested itself. At least for the discerning public…
For a team who are unquestioning customers and are looking to resume a path to position themselves effectively in midfield, the commitment to experience is understandable. Without forgetting that there is always the possibility of satisfying a request from Ferrari to host a driver from its Academy (we cannot forget that Leclerc’s first experience in F1 was at Haas). This way young people can keep up.
Source: Terra
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