2023 Haas F1: Team principal Guenther Steiner | Drivers Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg

Following a dry 2021, Haas managed to finish 8th in the constructor’s championship last year. Yet, it’s clear there is still much work to be done if F1′s lone American team are to repeat their exploits of 2018, or better yet, improve on them.

Haas: The team & the drivers

Though you may have heard his name recently in relation to his scathing comments about Mick Schumacher in Netflix’s ‘Drive to Survive,’ Haas team principle, Guenther Steiner, isn’t concerned about any critique of his character based on the show’s portrayal of him. Instead, he’s firmly focused on seeing the team build on what was an improved performance in 2022. With that said, he knows it’s going to be tough with a midfield that is absolutely stacked.

“If you ask me where anybody in the midfield is, I couldn’t tell you. I think this year some cars will be better on certain tracks, while others will be better elsewhere because it’s so close together. I could be wrong, but that’s how I look at it. You cannot base your performance on other people failing, you won’t be successful with that approach. It’s been an incredible job by the entire team - both at the track and at our three factories.” To be fair, we can’t argue with Steiner’s take on the situation, when considering that along with Alfa Romeo and AlphaTauri, all three teams are in a similar position as they head into the 2023 season.

Haas drivers Kevin Magnussen & Nico Hulkenberg

In 2022, Kevin Magnussen made a shock return to Formula 1 with Haas. We say shock, because this was the same driver that spent from 2017 to 2020 with the team - claiming a best drivers’ finish of ninth in 2018 - before being dropped for 2021. Yet, here we are. What’s even more surprising, is the fact that Magnussen and then Renault driver Nico Hulkenberg engaged in what is now an infamous expletive laced exchange at the 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix. If you didn’t know, they will now be Haas teammates for the 2023 season.

Where Hulkenberg is concerned, the 35-year-old has spent time with Williams, Force India and Renault, with two substitute appearances for Racing Point in 2020 and two for Aston Martin in 2022. That’s to say that Hulkenberg has spent some time in the wilderness. Some will of course point to the idea that the German currently holds the record for most F1 starts without a podium. Needless to say, he will be hoping to remove that dubious honor with Haas. Ultimately, though they do have a history, both drivers have performed impressively of late, with Magnussen taking a stunning pole at Sao Paolo last year. Indeed, it was probably one of the team’s greatest moments alongside their 2018 campaign which saw them finish fifth in the constructors’ championship - their best finish to date.

What to expect from Haas in 2023?

If we look at the big picture, last year’s campaign was significantly better than 2021 when the team failed to score a single point. Now with two experienced drivers at the wheel and close ties to Ferrari, it’s clear that Haas have their sights set on doing even better in 2023. In addition to the acquisition of Hulkenberg and Magnussen, the team has also gained further stability through the new sponsorship of Moneygram, as well as the steadying hand of Steiner. With these pieces in place, it’s quite likely we could the American team climbing its way out of the midfield, or at the very least making life a lot more difficult for those who are in it. Keep an eye on them.