Haas first to showcase new livery
LONDON: Haas became the first Formula 1 team to show off its new look for 2023 with growing optimism for the season ahead and USbased MoneyGram now prominent as the title sponsor.
The online reveal of digital renders showed the Ferraripowered car in a freshenedup red, black and white colour scheme.
‘‘It’s great that we’re first out of the gate to showcase our livery but our attention is firmly on getting the VF23 ontrack and preparing for the season ahead,’’ team boss Guenther Steiner said.
‘‘We really have something to build on following last year’s performances.’’
The new car will run for the first time at Silverstone on February 11 before testing in Bahrain on February 2325. The season then starts at the Sakhir circuit on March 5.
Haas finished eighth of the 10 teams in 2022 after occupying last place in 2021.
It has a new driver pairing. Denmark’s Kevin Magnussen has stayed but German veteran Nico
Hulkenberg replaces young compatriot Mick Schumacher.
Magnussen provided a highlight of the team’s 2022 season with a surprise pole position in the Brazilian Grand Prix.
‘‘We head into a new season buoyed by some strong team performances last year and a return to points paying finishes,’’ owner Gene Haas said.
‘‘The aim for the 2023 season is naturally to do that more consistently and with Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg I certainly believe we’ve got an experienced driver pairing more than capable of delivering those points on a Sunday.’’
The team announced a multiyear deal for payments and money transfer company MoneyGram International Inc to be its title sponsor last October.
The team’s previous two title sponsorships ended prematurely, a deal with drink brand Rich Energy terminated after just 14 races in 2019 and Russian Potash producer Uralkali dropped last year following the invasion of Ukraine.
The arrival of MoneyGram, active in 200 countries, starts a new era for the team.
‘‘I think things have evolved in a very positive way. The energy around the team is incredibly vibrant; they are very, very excited and fired up,’’ MoneyGram’s chief executive Alex Holmessaid.
‘‘I think they feel they are at a place now where they are going to have a very level playing field to compete from.’’
Champion Red Bull is next up, launching its RB19 car in New York this weekend. The team also has a USbased title sponsor in software giant Oracle. — Reuters