Haas Tale, Between Cars and Development: The Small One That Thinks Like a Big One

By Carlo Platella
Seventh place in the constructors’ standings, 7 points behind Racing Bulls. For Haas, the first part of the season is one of the best ever and not only in terms of results. The VF-24 proves to be an excellent starting platform, with the work on aerodynamics well supported by the new Ferrari suspensions. For the first time in its history, the American team gains competitiveness during the year thanks to the development, whose next goals appear clear. Everything is focused on high-speed tracks such as Monza, Baku and Las Vegas, where the Italian-American single-seater shows its best.

Beyond Expectations

The results achieved during the year clash with the words of the new Team Principal Ayao Komatsu at the presentation, who, covering his tracks, predicted a first part of the season at the back of the grid. The performances, however, exceed expectations, certifying the quality of the work done on the 2024 car, as Nico Hulkenberg also reflects: “It’s all thanks to the aerodynamic platformis where we made the most important changes and made the most important progress over the winter. This gave us the consistency and performance to get results”.

From the very beginning, the VF-24 shows a character that is the polar opposite of its predecessor. The most notable features are the more stable rear end and the widening of the operating window, making driving more predictable, instilling confidence in the drivers and reducing corrections on the steering wheel. The result is a car that is gentle on the tyres and for this reason better performing in the race rather than in qualifyingThe credit goes to the work on the aerodynamic platform, with a different setup that the team had already experimented with at the end of 2023 with the Austin package.

In 2024 Haas also enjoys the new Ferrari suspensionswhich guarantee a better compromise between space in the diffuser, mechanical grip and stabilization of the heights from the ground. “I think they’ve made a good step forward”approves the technical director De Zordo. “It definitely works better and the riders are much happier this year.” Ferrari in fact develops a suspension group with mechanical characteristics that enhance a more benign aerodynamic behaviour, objectives similar to those pursued by Haas.

The updates

Contrary to past seasons, there are several new features in the car this year. In Shanghai, a package including a new floor, a slimmer bonnet, a different side mirror fairing and changes to the rear wheel group flaps. Further changes arrive at Imola, while the most important package debuts at Silverstone, with a body restyling to work in synergy with the new bottom.

The aim of the development is to address one of the main weaknesses of the VF-24, which coincides with the lack of load in medium-high speed curves. “We worked in that direction with the updates brought from China onwards. With the GPS analyses of the rivals, there was an improvement”comments technical director De Zordo. Confirming this, with the updated car Nico Hulkenberg takes sixth place at Silverstone, on the track that par excellence highlights performance in fast corners.

The changes made to the machine are a reflection of those within the team, with more efficient management of human resources. “If you look at the trajectory, also in terms of performance on the track, This is the first time we are making progress during the season”Magnussen’s reflection. “Other years we started with a good car and then just didn’t improve. It was too difficult to do the season and develop at the same time. Instead, during the winter the team could use the people who usually do racing, so they had more resources. This year, however, it looks like we can do both well: race and develop simultaneously.”

The plan

Overall, the VF-24 expresses good aerodynamic penetration, with excellent straight-line speed measurements, but suffers from a lack of downforce on more driven circuits such as Budapest. A gap that the team does not try to fill with development, preferring to invest the limited resources available to enhance the project’s strength. The goal is to realize straight-line speeds with significant results on low-load tracks. Komatsu explains: “We looked at the real efficiency of the car and we saw where we are more or less competitive. It was quite clear in which direction we had to develop, whether towards high or low downforce, as our car is more competitive on the latter type of tracks.”

“It was a natural decision for us to develop rear wings for these tracks. We did it and the result is that we paid the price in Hungary. In Monaco and Budapest we had the best top speeds. It was a choice we had to make, being the smallest team”. Unlike 2023, the team is thus equipped with a specific wing and beam-wing package for low-downforce tracks, which debuts at Spa. The results in the Belgian weekend are disappointing, but Haas is aware that in Monza, Baku and Las Vegas it can still put its development strategy to good use. All this with sixth place among the constructors in its sights.