The Haas F1 Team, established in 2014, quickly made a name for itself in the highly competitive world of Formula 1 racing. As an American-owned team, Haas F1 brought fresh energy to the sport, combining technical expertise with innovative strategies. Despite being a relatively new entrant, Haas has consistently made strides in challenging established teams, focusing on maximising performance through innovative engineering and collaboration with key partners. This article explores the team’s journey in Formula 1, its growth, successes, challenges, and ongoing pursuit of excellence on the global racing stage.
Haas may not be the most prominent or top-tiered team on the grid, but it has made itself known in Formula One. Whether it is for its big characters, driving skills, or infamous crashes, everyone has heard of Haas. This season, they are returning with a new name and design. How will the Moneygram Haas F1 team perform for the 2023 season?
Table of Contents
About HAAS F1 Team
Haas Formula 1 team debuted in Formula One in 2016, and in the same year, they made history as the first all-American-led Formula One squad on the grid in over 30 years. The Haas Formula One team was named after its founder, Gene Haas. The Formula One team’s headquarters are based in Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA, and they also have a factory in Banbury, UK. Haas made a name for themselves in their debut year in F1, successfully putting points on the board, thanks to their driver Romain Grosjean. They finished an impressive eight-place finish and went on to do the same the following year, proving that it was not just luck that got them to the finish line. 2018, the team saw great success, coming fifth in the Driver’s Championship only three years after their debut. In the eight years that Haas has joined Formula One, their best result has been a fourth place, which they have achieved once. They have also completed one pole position and two fastest laps. Haas’s main title sponsor for this year is Moneygram, a money transfer company based in the United States of America.
Logo
The introduction of a new sponsor also came with a new logo for the Haas F1 team. The new logo sees Haas’ old logo, the iconic capital H, in red, surrounded by a circle combined with the new sponsor’s MoneyGram logo. The MoneyGram logo is a simple red dot with a white arrow inside. This logo is now joined with the Haas logo. MoneyGram is a global transfer company that has made sure its sponsorship deal with Haas is prominent, with the team name even changing to the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team. Often, F1 teams will have their title sponsor included in their name, but Haas has incorporated both logos one step further. There have been some mixed feelings about Haas’ new design. What do you think of this new design?
Haas F1 Team Principal
Guenther Steiner
If you have followed F1 for years or just watched the Netflix docu-series Drive to Survive, then you are probably well aware of who Guenther Steiner is. Steiner became quite the name for being a character on the Netflix TV show. Guenther Steiner has been the team principal of the Haas F1 Team since their debut season. Steiner started his professional career in motorsport in rallying when he joined the Mazda Rally Team Europe as their mechanic in 1986. Over the years, Steiner climbed the motorsports ladder and moved from mechanic to team manager to technical manager. In 1997, Steiner moved to Banbury, UK, to join Prodrive’s Allstar Rally Team as their team manager. Steiner led the new team to the European Championship in its first season with driver Krzysztof Holowczyc. This achievement got Steiner noticed, and M-Sport recruited him in Millbrook to be their project manager for the team’s Ford Focus fleet that completed in the World Rally Championship.
Steiner proved himself a great leader and organiser during his time here, moving up the ranks to director of engineering after only two years on the job. Following the 2001 season, Steiner’s managerial and technical talent caught the eye of Formula One champion Niki Lauda, who recruited him to join Jaguar Racing as the team’s managing director. In 2005, Steiner joined Red Bull Racing as the technical operations director. Steiner’s vast experience in managing people was again tested when he directed all the technical aspects of the Formula One team. With all this experience, it is clear why Gene Haas trusted Steiner in building and leading the first American-led Formula One team since 1986 in the role of team principal.
Haas F1 Drivers
In the short time that Haas has been in Formula One, the team have had seven different drivers on the grid throughout the seasons. These have been Romain Grosjean, Esteban Gutierrez, Mick Schumacher, son of the great F1 driver Michael Schumacher Nikita Mazepin and this season’s driving duo are Kevin Magnussen, a long-time driver for the team and Nico Hulkenberg. Seeing how this partner pairing can perform for Haas in 2023 will be exciting.
Kevin Magnussen
Like many drivers on the grid, Kevin Magnussen is a second-generation F1 driver after his father, Jan, who was a former Le Mans champion four times. In 2010, Kevin Magnussen joined the McLaren Young Driver Programme and made his racing debut for McLaren Racing in 2014, finishing second in his first race with the F1 team. At the 2014 Australian Grand Prix, Magnussen became the first Dane to claim a podium in F1. After his stint with McLaren, Magnussen changed to Renault for one season before moving to the Haas F1 Team. He raced with the team for four years from 2016 until 2020, with his best finish being in 2018 when he finished 9th in the Championship.
That same year, he also achieved his best race finish, with 5th place twice in the championships in Bahrain and Austria. In 2021, Magnussen and driving partner Grosjean were replaced by Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazipan. Magnussen spent 2021in the United States when he signed with Cadillac Racing and Chip Ganassi. He also partook in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with his father, Jan Magnussen. In 2022, Magnussen made a surprise comeback to the F1 grid when he re-joined Haas and secured his first-ever pole position at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The Danish native uses the number 20 when he drives.
Magnussen Statistics
| Podiums | 1 |
| Points | 185 |
| Highest Race Finish | 2 (x1) |
| Highest Grid Position | 4 |
Nico Hulkenberg
Nico ‘Hulk’ Hulkenburg has had a long Formula 1 career, driving for numerous teams, such as Williams, Force India, Sauber, Renault, Racing Point, Aston Martin, and now Haas. Hulkenburg made his F1 debut in 2010. In his rookie season, Hulkenberg was impressed with the pole position in Brazil. Since then, he has had quite the reputation for being a great points scorer, making him a highly valued team player. In 2015, he won the classic Le Mans 24 Hours race driving for Porsche for the first time.
Hulkenberg is known as a very calm and collected driver who doesn’t get very excited. He is significantly down to Earth with quick wit, always making light of a situation. Even when he was given the record for the most Formula One career starts without a podium finish. The German driver was dropped by Renault in 2019, and it looked like the “Hulk” may be off the grid; however, it was not to be the end, as he got a seat with BWT Racing Point and Aston Martin before making a move to Haas in 2023.
The German driver uses the number 27 when he drives on the grid.
Hulkenberg Statistics
| Podiums | 0 |
| Points | 530 |
| Highest Race Finish | 4(x3) |
| Highest Grid Position | 1 |
Romain Grosjean
A notable mention to Haas F1 drivers is that Romain Grosjean was one of Haas’ first-ever drivers and drove for the team for their first five seasons. He joined the Renault team as a test driver in 2008, one year after winning the Formula Three Euroseries. Grosjean raced under the French flag, although he is native to Switzerland. Grosjean had previously been one of the team’s Development Drivers. Since making his debut in Formula One, Grosjean has been known as quite the tumultuous driver, often getting involved or causing collisions on the grid. Grosjean impressed many with his driving skills and always had a seat on the grid for the years he drove in Formula One.
In 2020, Grosjean was told that he would not have a seat with Haas for the 2021 season, and, therefore, his Formula One career was potentially over if he was not offered another seat; little did he know at the time that his F1 career was finished for good. When driving his third last race for Haas in Bahrain, Grosjean had one of the worst crashes in Formula One history. He went into a wall at over 200 km/hr, splitting the car’s chassis in two and engulfing it in flames. For 30 seconds, the F1 world waited for just under 30 seconds, which felt like a lifetime, to see Grosjean emerge miraculously alive from the fire. He injured both his hands in the accident.
This crash showed Grosjean’s determination and drive. The following year, he pursued a career in IndyCar racing in the US, driving for the Andretti team.
Haas F1 Reserve driver
Pietro Fittipaldi
Haas has confirmed that Pietro Fittipaldi will continue as their official test and reserve driver for the 2023 season. The 26-year-old has Formula One bloodline, with his grandfather being two-time F1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi. 2023 will be Fittipaldi’s fifth straight season with the Haas F1 team. Pietro Fittpaldi tested the VF-18 and VF-19 F1 cars. The Brazilian-American made his Grand Prix debut when Romain Grosjean suffered a terrible injury in 2020, replacing him for the season’s final two rounds.
Haas F1 car 2023
Haas’ car for the 2023 season is the VF-23. After sticking with a predominantly white scheme in past seasons, Haas has switched things up for the VF-23 by moving to a black base with white features and red highlights. New title sponsor MoneyGram shows their presence, with the company’s logos covering both the front wing and engine cover. Along with exterior changes, Haas also changed the interiors. The new Vf-23 kept its centre-loaded front wing concept with this new design, which is to help create more outwash in front of the front wheels and more potent suction in the middle to help drag more clean air to the centre.
The floor edge has been raised by 15mm in 2023 to comply with F1 guidelines. This year, Haas followed Ferrari’s design with a dished side pod. This allows clean air to be dragged downwards. However, Haas designed the car so that the flow is not dragged down; instead, it is released at the upper wishbone. The VF-23 also has mandatory larger mirrors installed this season. What do you think of Haas’s new livery for the 2023 season?
Haas F1 Team Achievements
Since Haas is a relatively new team to Formula One, they do not have as many achievements as other teams. For the 8 seasons that the F1 team have been on the grid, they have started 156 races, achieved two fastest laps, and gained 248 points. In these 156 races, their best finish has been fourth place, their best grid position has been fourth, and their best rank has been an impressive fifth place. Of the 248 points Haas has gained, 11 have been double points finishes. For the 2023 season, we are sure Haas will improve on these achievements with their dynamic duo-driving pair Hulkenberg and Magnussen.
Haas F1 Merchandise
If you are a Haas Formula One team fan looking for merchandise to show your support, we have a list of stores allowing you to buy as much merch as you want. We have compiled a list of all the best websites where you can get Haas Merchandise to show everyone you support on the F1 grid. From memorabilia to clothing, you can choose from many different Haas F1 items.
FANS Brand
Fans Brand is a great website that sells Motorsport merchandise. They also have decent discounts from time to time, such as 40% off, so it is an excellent option for more high-priced merchandise that you have been wanting to get your hands on. Fans can buy Haas pants, t-shirts, polo shirts, caps, sweatshirts, and jackets here. Besides their general sales, the store also often has 10% off selected items such as caps and hats. If you have a Haas F1 fan, their Haas F1 gifts section is a great stocking filler at Christmas. Prices can vary from the mid-30s up to and over €100.
Haas Merch
On this website, fans can buy Haas F1 team clothing. Here, you can buy printed t-shirts with the Haas logo, which comes in different colours and designs, and t-shirts with quotes from drivers and Steiner; for example, “We look like a bunch of Legends” can be found on various t-shirts in distinctive designs. All T-shirts are priced at the same price, making choosing which one to get even more complex. The cost of the T-shirts is £23.95. This collection is unique to Haas and very popular among Haas Formula One fans.
Moneygram Haas F1 Media
You have plenty of media options if you want to keep up to date with the Haas F1 team’s progress and news throughout the year. For any F1 fan, there is the option to listen to the podcast F1:Beyond the Grid to hear exclusive interviews with Haas drivers and team members.
Website
The Haas F1 Team | The Haas F1 Team website uploads press releases every few days, keeping fans updated on qualifying performances, grand prix results, and upcoming races. Fans can also read about Haas partnerships and accreditations. The press releases include statements by the Moneygram Haas F1 team, giving fans an insight into how the Haas team feels. You can also read question-and-answer articles by the Haas drivers Magnussen and Hulkenberg.
Social Media
The Moneygram Haas F1 team is also on social media, so you can follow them on your preferred application.
Haas’ Instagram account @haasf1team posts many updates about the team daily. The media team allows followers to see amazing photos from behind the scenes of the racers and the Haas team, still pictures of races and cars. They also upload quotes from the drivers and the team to ensure you don’t miss anything that has been said. It also keeps fans updated with qualifying results and races on their stories. They save their race updates as highlights on their Instagram for fans to look back whenever they please. Haas also does Instagram Live, which allows fans to interact with the team in real time. The page also links to their Linktree website for Haas wallpapers, teamwear selection and posters, to name a few. Instagram is Haas’ most followed social media page.
The Moneygram Haas Twitter account @haasf1team uploads many posts similar to those on Instagram but with extra content included. The Haas media team show their sense of humour with funny images of the drivers. The Haas Twitter page gives more up-to-date information during races, uploading the drivers’ positioning throughout. They also document pitstops and other activities happening inside the pit. The Twitter page also links to Haas’s link tree page, so fans can easily access this form.
The Hass team’s Facebook page is similar to their Instagram account. They upload results and some behind-the-scenes photos, but you won’t get updates on results and positionings as they happen, like the Twitter page. Twitter is known for being such an interactive and up-to-date platform. Haas uses Facebook for basic information that does not have a date. Nevertheless, Facebook is still a great social media page for seeing updates on Moneygram Haas and what is happening within the team. Facebook is the least followed social media account, yet it still uploads regularly.
TikTok
If you like to watch videos and TikTok is your primary media source, then you should follow the Moneygram Haas F1 team’s page. Here, you will get exclusive videos of the drivers and can ask the drivers and team questions via the comments. The drivers will often answer fans’ questions in separate videos. These videos show you precisely what Haas is like as a team. Hulkenberg and Magnussen also participate in TikTok trends and challenges and make funny videos. You also see into their lives on the grid and what goes on behind the scenes for a Formula One driver. This is a must-follow for Haas fans who crave behind-the-scenes footage. Haas has over 7 million likes on their TikTok videos, making it a very popular platform for the team.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Haas F1 Team has proven to be a resilient and ambitious force in Formula 1, continuously pushing the boundaries despite its relatively short time in the sport. Through strategic partnerships, particularly with Ferrari, and a focus on efficient engineering and management, Haas has demonstrated its potential to compete at the highest level. While challenges remain, the team’s commitment to growth and performance ensures that it will remain a key player in the future of Formula 1 racing. With a strong foundation and clear vision, Haas F1’s journey is one to watch as it strives for tremendous success in the years to come.
If you enjoyed this article, you may be interested in other F1 articles on our page, such as McLaren F1, Scuderia Ferrari, Alpine F1, and Drive to Survive.