In Last Word On Sport\u2019s series of 2024 F1 Reviews, we turn to Haas, one of the teams that surprised Formula 1 this season.<\/p>\n
At the start of the 2024 season, newly-appointed Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu managed expectations. He warned that the team might once again find themselves as the backmarkers of the grid.<\/p>\n
Instead, the American team exceeded even their own leadership’s expectations. Throughout the season, Haas demonstrated steady growth and pushed until the very end to compete for sixth place in the Constructors’ standings.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, they fell just short, finishing seventh with 58 points, narrowly losing out to Alpine by just 7 points. This marked a significant leap from their dismal 2023 campaign, where they were last with just 12 points.<\/p>\n
The drivers played an integral role in Haas’ resurgence. Nico Hulkenberg, who moves to Sauber next year, scored an impressive 41 points to claim 11th in the Drivers’ Championship.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Kevin Magnussen, who wrapped up his final F1 season, secured 15th with 16 points.<\/p>\n
Despite managed expectations, the VF-24 proved surprisingly competitive from the first half of the season. The upgrades introduced in subsequent races significantly enhanced the car\u2019s performance, allowing the team to grow stronger as the season progressed.<\/p>\n
In Miami and Silverstone, the VF-24 struggled on tracks requiring high aerodynamic load and struggled in high-speed corners. However, the turning point came in Austin with the introduction of a new floor design.<\/p>\n
This upgrade improved airflow management underneath the car, generating more downforce and balancing aerodynamic load effectively.<\/p>\n
The impact was immediate. Across the Austin and Mexico Grands Prix, Haas scored a combined 12 points. Impressively, these results came on tracks not particularly suited to the VF-24’s characteristics.<\/p>\n
The new floor was an evolution of the existing concept, highlighting Haas’s deep understanding of their car’s weaknesses and their dedication to addressing them.<\/p>\n
This progress, coupled with Aston Martin’s decline in form, allowed Haas to emerge as the fifth-strongest team by season’s end.<\/p>\n
READ MORE<\/strong>: Aston Martin\u2019s 2024 F1 Season Review: Too Much for Too Little<\/a><\/p>\n Hulkenberg had an incredible campaign, finishing as Haas’s top scorer. In the first five races, the German scored points on three occasions, setting the tone for a strong year.<\/p>\n His standout performances included back-to-back sixth-place finishes at the Austrian and British Grands Prix.<\/p>\n However, one of his most remarkable moments came at the season finale in Abu Dhabi<\/a>. Hulkenberg qualified a stunning P4, just behind World Champion Max Verstappen<\/a>, though a three-place grid penalty dropped him down the order.<\/p>\n Still, he put in a stellar performance to finish P8, ending his season with style.<\/p>\n After Abu Dhabi, Hulkenberg bid farewell to Haas as he prepares to join Sauber<\/a> in 2025 where he will drive alongside F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto<\/a> – both have already run in the post-season tests for Sauber.<\/p>\n Reflecting on his time with the team, he expressed pride and gratitude, describing his stint at Haas as the most beautiful chapter of his Formula 1 career.<\/p>\nNico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen: Bidding Farewell<\/h4>\n
Nico Hulkenberg: A Solid Season<\/h5>\n