F1 News: Haas Set To Introduce First Upgrade Package Of 2024 During The Chinese GP

Saajan Jogia | Apr 7, 2024

Nov 17, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Moneygram Haas F1 driver Nico Hulkenberg (27) of Germany / Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports

Confirmed reports indicate that the Haas F1 team is set to unveil its first early upgrade package of the season during the upcoming fifth round in China, scheduled just two weeks from now. This strategic move contrasts with their approach in 2023, where upgrades were implemented by the seventh round of the season.

Key Takeaways:

• The Haas F1 team plans to introduce an early upgrade package for the VF-24 during the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix, a departure from their 2023 strategy.
• Technical Director Ayao Komatsu is driving this shift, aiming to rectify past inefficiencies and enhance the car's performance earlier in the season.
• While specific details of the upgrades remain undisclosed, the move signifies a proactive approach by Haas to improve its competitiveness in the championship standings.

The shift in strategy appears to coincide with leadership changes during the winter hiatus, with technical director Ayao Komatsu stepping into the role previously held by team principal Guenther Steiner. Last year, the upgrades introduced for the VF-23 F1 car at the Circuit Of The Americas failed to yield significant performance improvements, prompting driver Nico Hulkenberg to revert to the original car specifications.

Ayao Komatsu - Haas / Haas Press Image

The delay in the introduction of the upgrades and their ineffectiveness highlighted a huge loophole in the team's preparation in 2023. Maybe, Komatsu has been trying to fill that gap this year by introducing improvements much earlier than anticipated, where one of the drivers will test them during the Chinese GP to gauge their effectiveness before deploying them on both cars in upcoming Grands Prix.

During the winter break, Komatsu outlined his strategy for the 2024 season, emphasizing a technical-focused approach to operations. This entails leveraging trackside data to drive further development initiatives. He said:

“We’re making changes to the organizational structure on the technical side to ensure that whatever we’re finding out on the track translates into car development."

Nov 17, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Moneygram Haas F1 driver Kevin Magnussen (20) of Denmark / Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports

Although the specifics of the new components slated for China remain undisclosed, this move signals a positive stride for the American team. The expedited development of the car underscores the pressing need for enhancements, originally intended for the Imola circuit.

With the VF-24 showing promising speed, particularly against close competitors like Sauber, Williams, and Alpine, there's optimism surrounding Haas's performance.