Haas Archives - The SportsRush https://thesportsrush.com/tag/haas/ Stories from American Sports Wed, 21 Feb 2024 05:56:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://cdn-wp.thesportsrush.com/2016/07/cropped-FacebookCover-150x150.jpg Haas Archives - The SportsRush https://thesportsrush.com/tag/haas/ 32 32 Drive to Survive Goes Beyond Max Verstappen- Untold Underdog Storylines Take Center Stage in Season 6 https://thesportsrush.com/f1-news-drive-to-survive-goes-beyond-max-verstappen-untold-underdog-storylines-take-center-stage-in-season-6/ Wed, 21 Feb 2024 05:56:17 +0000 https://thesportsrush.com/?p=654743 Amid a rather chaotic last couple of weeks in F1, fans rejoice over the news that Drive to Survive’s season 6 will be released soon. The popular Netflix series focuses on the intricacies of the F1 world. It lifts the curtain and lets fans see the underbelly of the world they adore. The latest season…

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Amid a rather chaotic last couple of weeks in F1, fans rejoice over the news that Drive to Survive’s season 6 will be released soon. The popular Netflix series focuses on the intricacies of the F1 world. It lifts the curtain and lets fans see the underbelly of the world they adore. The latest season of the series, as reported by ‘Tudum by Netflix,’ has ten episodes, premiering on the 23rd of February. However, the absence of Max Verstappen from the promos has become a cause for concern.

The latest installment follows the 2023 season, which turned out to be a record-breaking campaign for Max Verstappen. He aimed to improve his 2022 performance and did an unexpectedly impressive job. However, it looks like the emphasis will be on the smaller storylines this time around.

 

The season opener will focus on Aston Martin and their growing financial issues. Lawrence Stroll wants to do everything in his power to ensure his team’s resurgence, and cameras follow him in his pursuit. The next three episodes capture Nyck de Vries’ axing, McLaren‘s dip, and the battle between Haas and Williams, respectively. Alpine drivers take center stage in episode 5 as their rivalry reaches new heights.

Episode 6 follows Lewis Hamilton as the 7X world champion contemplates his future in F1. The following episodes see a light shine on athletes and celebs investing in Alpine while also focusing on Ferrari bringing Fred Vasseur on board. Episode 9 lays emphasis on Daniel Ricciardo coming back to a driving seat after almost a one-year break. The season finale dives deeper into the rivalry of Mercedes and Ferrari at the end of the 2023 season.

Why isn’t Max Verstappen in DTS season 6?

It is no surprise that Max Verstappen is not the focus of Drive to Survive. In an interview with TIME, he expressed his concerns over the growing marketing-centric moves by the sport’s authorities. He believes the sport is starting to lay emphasis on things that aren’t as important as racing.

Hence, he grows wary of where F1 is headed. With three F1 championships already under his belt, the Dutchman isn’t hungry for any records. Hence, if the dramatization continues, Verstappen will not stick around to experience it.

 

Drive to Survive had a massive impact on the sport’s viewership numbers, especially in America. With the earlier seasons detailing Verstappen’s story, the Dutchman saw a huge fanbase form in the US. However, the 26-year-old isn’t a fan of the dramatization of his story. He doesn’t want to hear his story from someone else’s perspective. Furthermore, given the series is essentially a recap of a season, Verstappen feels it is unnecessary for him to be a part of the narrative since he already knows what will happen.

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Somin Bhattacharjee
Why Are All the 2024 F1 Challengers Predominantly Dull and Black? https://thesportsrush.com/f1-news-why-are-all-the-2024-f1-challengers-predominantly-dull-and-black/ Thu, 08 Feb 2024 08:09:50 +0000 https://thesportsrush.com/?p=645109 So far, five F1 teams have launched their liveries for the 2024 season, and almost all of them are predominantly black or have some significant black elements in them. McLaren and Williams have a decent amount of color on their liveries. However, Sauber, Alpine, and Haas have gone extreme in terms of having a black…

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So far, five F1 teams have launched their liveries for the 2024 season, and almost all of them are predominantly black or have some significant black elements in them. McLaren and Williams have a decent amount of color on their liveries. However, Sauber, Alpine, and Haas have gone extreme in terms of having a black and dull livery. The reason behind the same is the fact that they feature exposed carbon fiber. While paint usually covers the same, the lack of it is bothering the fans. But why are teams shedding the paint?

F1 is all about performance and being fast on the tracks. If a car weighs more than the rest, it will inevitably be slow on the tracks in the long run. As such, shedding as much weight as possible while not hampering a car’s performance is key. This is where exposed carbon fiber comes into play for the F1 teams.

According to Mark Hughes from The Race, each full-color scheme to a car adds at least 1 kilogram (2.3 pounds) of weight, which affects performance. To put the same into numbers, a kilo of extra weight adds around 0.03 seconds to a lap time.

In a race of around 60 laps, this would translate into 1.8 seconds. This means that a car would be 1.8 seconds slower in a race only because of added weight (via paint in this scenario).

To put things into further perspective, a full paint job on a car adds around 6 kilograms (13.227 pounds). Certain teams (such as McLaren) are turning to vinyl to add color to their cars instead of paint. The material is lighter and saves crucial weight while allowing their cars to stand out from the crowd.

Drivers’ weight included, a car’s minimum weight should be 798 kgs (1759 lbs). While this has about 70 to 80 kgs of the driver (which drivers too look to optimize), under the latest regulations, teams are doing everything they can to ensure they only add weight that aids in performance. The rest only acts as a barrier for them.

What is the Carbon Fiber material that F1 teams use?

For decades, the teams in F1 have built their cars almost entirely of a material called carbon fiber. It is the exposed black part of a car that teams are now in favor of showing off rather than covering it with paint.

The primary reason behind the use of this material is its strength-to-weight ratio. While most other materials that provide good strength to cars are very heavy, carbon fiber is amongst the lightest and strongest materials for the job.

Furthermore, it acts as an excellent safety material for the drivers, owing to its tensile strength. Teams require multiple layers of CF on each part to ensure maximum durability.

They vacuum layers together before putting the parts into a pressure cooker to complete the manufacturing process. McLaren introduced the material in F1 when they first started using carbon fiber back in the 1980s.

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Aishwary Gaonkar
Is Ayao Komatsu Sponsoring Williams?: Who Are the New Partners of Grove Based Team in 2024 https://thesportsrush.com/f1-news-is-ayao-komatsu-sponsoring-williams-who-are-the-new-partners-of-grove-based-team-in-2024/ Tue, 06 Feb 2024 05:30:56 +0000 https://thesportsrush.com/?p=643425 Williams officially kicked off their 2024 season by revealing the livery they will be running on the FW46 this year. That being said, despite the sleek blue design swaying quite a few heads at the launch event, the unveiling of a primary sponsor left many scratching their heads. The team’s colors bore the name ‘Komatsu‘…

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Williams officially kicked off their 2024 season by revealing the livery they will be running on the FW46 this year. That being said, despite the sleek blue design swaying quite a few heads at the launch event, the unveiling of a primary sponsor left many scratching their heads. The team’s colors bore the name ‘Komatsu‘ prominently. Many confused it with Hass’ latest team principal Ayao Komatsu and thought that the Japanese engineer was somehow sponsoring the team.

As it turns out, the Komatsu sponsorship has nothing to do with Haas’ boss. In a press release by the team, they revealed that they had signed a multi-year deal with Komatsu, a prominent construction and mining company.

This would be the second time the two have joined forces in Formula 1. Komatsu delivered gearbox components to the team back in the 90s, at the peak of Williams’ dominance in the sport. Their partnership culminated in the team securing the 1996 and 1997 championships, for Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve, respectively.

Formula 1 twitter sprung into action, however. Be that as it may, it was actually Haas that stole the show with their hilarious tweet. The team tweeted, “Why is our team principal on your side pods?”

The FW46’s unveiling in New York was a grand affair. The optimism for the team was palpably high, with James Vowles, their team principal, and Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant charting their ambitions for the season to come.

Williams bank of 2023 momentum for 2024 success

In 2023, Williams finished a respectable 7th in the Constructors’ championship, which gave them hope for the future. Once a top team, Williams found it difficult to even finish in the points in the recent past. However, the team now want to set their sights further up the grid.

Vowles was quoted by Autosport as saying,

“As we look to build on the momentum from last season, we have a driver line-up in Alex and Logan that is capable of consistently fighting for points while helping lead our development for the future.”

A significant jump in the standings would be a far-fetched aspiration for the team. However, given how their car had been developed over the course of last season, the team can expect to solidify their position in the midfield with some constant battles for points in 2024.

How Williams will fare against the competition will also dictate their capabilities to retain Alex Albon. With the driver market ready to blow up for 2025, Albon would be eager to drive at the front of the grid if Williams fail to show constant improvement this year.

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Somin Bhattacharjee
Haas Team Boss Ayao Komatsu Reveals the Reason Behind Kevin Magnussen’s Difficult 2023 Season https://thesportsrush.com/f1-news-haas-team-boss-ayao-komatsu-reveals-the-reason-behind-kevin-magnussens-difficult-2023-season/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 01:30:28 +0000 https://thesportsrush.com/?p=632647 2023 would be a year to forget for Kevin Magnussen. After the highs of a maiden pole in 2022, last year was a nightmare for the Haas driver. With an average grid position of 12 and a finish position of 14, the Danish racer could only score three points for the team throughout the 22-race…

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2023 would be a year to forget for Kevin Magnussen. After the highs of a maiden pole in 2022, last year was a nightmare for the Haas driver. With an average grid position of 12 and a finish position of 14, the Danish racer could only score three points for the team throughout the 22-race calendar. That being said, Haas’ latest team principal and former trackside engineering director, Ayao Komatsu, has absolved the 31-year-old for his dismal season and blamed the VF-23 instead.

While talking about the troubled 2023 car, Komatsu explained how the characteristics of the car never really suited Magnussen’s driving style. He told Motorsport.com, “He [Magnussen] is a driver who needs good stability on entry and constant management in corners.”

On the contrary, Komatsu believes that the team have worked on the problems that plagued last year’s car. Hence, he is hopeful that Magnussen will have a better year in 2024 as the car will hopefully be more to his liking and driving style.

The latest era of Formula 1 has given teams a lot to think about. For example, drivers need to adapt their driving styles to the new era of cars.

With new profile Pirelli tires added to the mix at the beginning of 2022, the team will now work around the limitations of the current regulations to help prepare a car that suits Magnussen’s ‘U-style’ driving as opposed to the current ‘V-style’ being forced on him due to the low and rigid ride limitations.

2023 was the final nail in the coffin for Haas in Formula 1

As the 2023 season came to a conclusion after the Abu Dhabi GP, a grim reality started to dawn on the team. They had indeed finished last in the Constructors’ Championship. This was seen by many as the final act of their preceding years’ miseries.

After a strong debut season in 2016, the Kannapolis-based outfit started slipping down the order. Since 2019, the team has seen one controversy or the other off the track, in terms of Rich Energy or even Nikita Mazepin. Meanwhile, on the track, their performance kept degrading.

The culmination of the 2023 season also saw Guenther Steiner lose his job as the leader of the team. After masterminding the very existence of the team on the grid, Gene Haas showed the revered Italian the exit door in acrimonious circumstances.

As it turns out, he did not even get to say his farewells to people who he had called teammates for the last eight years. A sort of anger was reflected in Steiner when he said, “I can accuse him but that doesn’t do anything because he can make his decisions, he is free to decide,” as quoted by Soymotor.com.

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Vidit Dhawan
New Haas Team Principal Forced To Be Realistic Looking at the Mountain of Problems Ahead of Him https://thesportsrush.com/f1-news-new-haas-team-principal-forced-to-be-realistic-looking-at-the-mountain-of-problems-ahead-of-him/ Sun, 21 Jan 2024 17:52:20 +0000 https://thesportsrush.com/?p=632230 The Haas F1 Team underwent a significant hierarchical transformation recently. The organization announced Ayao Komatsu as the new boss after dismissing longtime team principal Guenther Steiner. However, given the number of issues that lie ahead of the American team, the Japanese team boss needs to be realistic. Last year, the American team experienced a significant…

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The Haas F1 Team underwent a significant hierarchical transformation recently. The organization announced Ayao Komatsu as the new boss after dismissing longtime team principal Guenther Steiner. However, given the number of issues that lie ahead of the American team, the Japanese team boss needs to be realistic.

Last year, the American team experienced a significant setback, finishing at the bottom of the constructors’ championship with a meager 12 points. The root of this problem was traced back to the performance issues with Haas‘s VF23, particularly concerning tire degradation during races.

To address this challenge, the team introduced a revamped car in Austin. However, rather than making their troubles easier, the situation worsened. It was because Nico Hulkenberg decided to revert to the previous specifications of the car. Nevertheless, following the disappointing season, the newly appointed team principal openly admits that the past year’s challenges have left Haas in a difficult position.

However, he remains optimistic about the upcoming season, expressing confidence that the new model will signify a substantial improvement over its predecessor. In an interview with Motorsportweek.com, Komatsu said, “The ’24 car is a clear step.”

Yet, he refrains from unequivocally stating that the car is sufficiently competitive for the upcoming competition. Komatsu expresses this sentiment as he believes that the adjustments made in Austin diverted the team’s resources. In light of this, the new Haas team boss said, “I’m realistic about the car we put out in Bahrain, but not in a negative manner.” 

New Haas team boss Ayao Komatsu discusses the core problems of the team

Established in 2016, Haas is currently the youngest team in Formula 1. Since its inception, Guenther Steiner has been the guiding force for the team. However, starting from the 2024 season, Ayao Komatsu will take the reins. Unlike the previous team boss, Komatsu brings a different perspective and work style, showcasing the distinctive approaches that individuals contribute to the team.

Considering that the Japanese team boss believes that Haas operating under two bases is not the optimal structure for running an F1 team. The American team currently has one base in the US and another in Italy.

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In an interview with Motorsport Magazine, Komatsu noted that the dual-base setup was advantageous when they initiated it in 2016 and remained effective until 2018. However, in light of the current regulations in 2022, Komatsu suggests that this setup requires evolution.

He elaborated, “If we get the maximum out of how we set up, and then if that becomes right, we [therefore] cannot do anything better with the way we set up [and] then we can talk about that. That’s my strategy.” Notably, the dual-base structure of Haas is because of the team’s affiliation with the Italian team Ferrari.

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Aishwary Gaonkar
After Ayao Komatsu’s Appointment, Haas Releases Ad for Another Post Left Vacant by Guenther Steiner https://thesportsrush.com/f1-news-after-ayao-komatsus-appointment-haas-releases-ad-for-another-post-left-vacant-by-guenther-steiner/ Sat, 20 Jan 2024 00:30:42 +0000 https://thesportsrush.com/?p=631098 Guenther Steiner had the most unexpected end to his Haas journey after Gene Haas decided to sack the veteran leader recently. Following the move, Haas immediately promoted Ayao Komatsu to the role of the team principal ahead of the 2024 F1 season. However, that was not all as the American team now needs one more…

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Guenther Steiner had the most unexpected end to his Haas journey after Gene Haas decided to sack the veteran leader recently. Following the move, Haas immediately promoted Ayao Komatsu to the role of the team principal ahead of the 2024 F1 season. However, that was not all as the American team now needs one more personnel to fulfill the gap left by Steiner.

The Kannapolis-based team recently released an advertisement based on their requirement for the second personnel. The role of the job is primarily to be the right-hand man to Komatsu in day-to-day operations. In other words, Haas needs a Chief Operating Officer to look over the management of the team.

Haas is one of those teams that has multiple bases across continents. They have a base in Banbury, United Kingdom, and along with this, they also have two design offices in Maranello and Dallara. That is not it as they also have a presence in Charlotte, United States. Steiner alone managed all these locations when he was team principal.

As Haas parted ways with their former boss, they now need someone with ample experience in the executive role to take charge of other facilities while Komatsu is in charge of the main base and the team. Therefore, they put out an advertisement for the new role. As per SpeedCafe, the advertisement reads,

“MoneyGram Haas F1 Team is a growing company, and we need someone to be the right-hand person to our Team Principal. We’re searching for a Chief Operating Officer (COO) who has strong leadership skills and the ability to help steer the business to achieve its strategic goals. This position will be based in Banbury, UK. The COO will lead our team of high-performing professionals to be efficient, productive, and effective.

Why did Haas sack Guenther Steiner?

The Guenther Steiner saga began shortly after the Haas F1 team removed the Italian-American’s name from their official website. Within hours, the announcement came that Gene Haas decided to sack the team principal and put Ayao Komatsu in charge for 2024 and beyond.

According to reports, the sudden move arrived after the American team performed miserably in the 2023 season despite having two brilliant drivers in their ranks. Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen boast huge experience in F1 but failed to show that on track as Haas finished the season in P10 with just 12 points.

This was a drastic dip for Gene Haas’ team from their 2022 performance. In 2022, the American team performed fairly better as they ended their season in P8 with 37 points. Therefore, the huge drop in terms of performance is what many believe to be the reason for Komatsu’s arrival.

However, Komatsu is not expected to have it easy at Haas in his first season. Firstly, the upcoming 2024 F1 challenger does not have any mega upgrades coming, and secondly, the Japanese engineer has already lowered the expectations from the team after revealing the state of Haas.

Since just over a month remains before the new Formula 1 season begins, Komatsu’s appointment as the top boss is not expected to bring about a big change in terms of performance. Therefore, Gene Haas’ expectations from his side should also be at a minimum.

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Vidit Dhawan
Ayao Komatsu Doesn’t Give Much Hope to Gene Haas’ Expectations After Revealing ‘Not So Bright’ 2024 Prospects https://thesportsrush.com/f1-news-ayao-komatsu-doesnt-give-much-hope-to-gene-haas-expectations-after-revealing-not-so-bright-2024-prospects/ Thu, 18 Jan 2024 10:24:50 +0000 https://thesportsrush.com/?p=629723 When Gene Haas made the vastly unpopular decision of sacking Guenther Steiner, the American would’ve hoped that it would turn a new leaf for the team. However, Steiner’s replacement, Ayao Komatsu has already put a dampener on Haas’ expectations with a grim prediction for 2024. While Steiner exited only recently, work on the team’s 2024…

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When Gene Haas made the vastly unpopular decision of sacking Guenther Steiner, the American would’ve hoped that it would turn a new leaf for the team. However, Steiner’s replacement, Ayao Komatsu has already put a dampener on Haas’ expectations with a grim prediction for 2024.

While Steiner exited only recently, work on the team’s 2024 challenger had been in the the works for quite some time now. Naturally, with the 2024 season only a couple of months away from commencing, not a lot can be done to change or better concept on such short notice.

Komatsu, according to The Race, isn’t going to promise the moon to Gene Haas anytime soon. The Japanese engineer has admitted that while the 2024 car is a clear step ahead from last year, the timing of the developmental focus changing has impeded the rate of progress for the team.

Gene Haas has made his intentions very clear. He wants Haas to move up the field, and do it quickly. Whilst his latest confidante, Komatsu shares the same aspirations, the latter is less optimistic about the 2024 season as his boss would have him be.

Despite filling in Guenther Steiner’s shoes, Ayao Komatsu wants to forge a legacy of his own at Haas

In an interview with The Athletic, Komatsu reiterated that he was not here to imitate or even emulate Guenther Steiner. The 47-year-old is keen to see Haas rise to the top of Formula 1, whilst leaving his own imprint and legacy on the team.

That being said, he has picked up a personality trait or two after spending 8 years with Steiner as his right hand man. “This is not something I’m proud to say! My language is not great. I swear way too much. But I try not to do that,” revealed Komatsu, who evidently got this x-rated habit out of Steiner who made this his bread and butter on Netflix’s Drive to Survive docuseries.

Komatsu has set his priorities straight. As team principal, his job is to only worry about the performance of the team on the track and technically. Media and sponsorship exposure is something he will not trouble himself with as “that’s not my job.”

This comes as a stark contrast to how Steiner ran the team. For all intents and purposes, Steiner was the face of the team, gaining massive popularity for himself and the team in the paddock, amongst the fans and sponsors.

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Aishwary Gaonkar
New Haas Boss Ayao Komatsu Not Eager to Follow in Guenther Steiner’s Footsteps: “Very Different Person” https://thesportsrush.com/f1-news-new-haas-boss-ayao-komatsu-not-eager-to-follow-in-guenther-steiners-footsteps-very-different-person/ Wed, 17 Jan 2024 17:51:21 +0000 https://thesportsrush.com/?p=629635 Guenther Steiner was one of the most charismatic and entertaining team principals in F1. When Haas sacked him earlier this month, fans realized that his presence will be hugely missed. New team principal Ayao Komatsu, however, does not want to emulate Steiner. He doesn’t care what popularity that Italian-American had, and wants to take a…

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Guenther Steiner was one of the most charismatic and entertaining team principals in F1. When Haas sacked him earlier this month, fans realized that his presence will be hugely missed. New team principal Ayao Komatsu, however, does not want to emulate Steiner. He doesn’t care what popularity that Italian-American had, and wants to take a completely different approach.

Steiner was known to be witty, outspoken and erratic with his communication. These became very evident after he rose to stardom through Netflix’s Drive to Survive. In certain ways, his popularity among fans because of his personality was what kept the spirit of the team alive.

 

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Komatsu wants to take a more technical approach. He insists he won’t be looking to replace Steiner in the paddock. According to him, the 58-year-old has a completely different set of strengths and weaknesses. He said to Autosport:

“He’s a very different person. He’s a very different character, as you know. He’s got very different strengths and weaknesses to me, so I’m not trying to be somebody else.”

Replacing Steiner’s energy is difficult, and Netflix will be sad about Steiner leaving F1 (for the time being). He was a huge asset to the series, and Komatsu is not looking to bring the same things to the table. From a technical point of view, however, Haas seems optimistic about the future.

What does Haas look like without Guenther Steiner?

Guenther Steiner’s name became synonymous with Haas. He was their team principal since the very beginning in 2016, but things never really took off in terms of results. They achieved a fifth place finish in the standings in 2018, but thereafter, they became a perennial backmarker.

 

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A post shared by MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@haasf1team)

A 10th place finish in 2023 drew the line for Gene Haas, who decided to appoint Komatsu in hopes for a brighter future. While Haas did gain popularity because of Steiner’s fame, technical side of things became a concern.

In the immediate future, that is the area they want to address. They have a stable driver’s line up in Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg, plus with money coming in from their sponsors, things could be looking up.

As for Steiner, he will take time away from F1, and is not interested in what Haas will do for the future.

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Tanish Chachra
Salt in Haas Wounds for Guenther Steiner as F1 Big Dogs Compare Him to a Stinky Fish https://thesportsrush.com/f1-news-salt-in-haas-wounds-for-guenther-steiner-as-f1-big-dogs-compare-him-to-a-stinky-fish/ Tue, 16 Jan 2024 18:30:07 +0000 https://thesportsrush.com/?p=628990 Earlier this month, Guenther Steiner’s departure from Haas was confirmed – a move that caused shockwaves within the F1 community this off-season. Team owner Gene Haas was not happy with Steiner because of the outfit’s poor results. Now, several big personalities in F1 are taking brutal digs at Steiner, bringing up things that will surely…

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Earlier this month, Guenther Steiner’s departure from Haas was confirmed – a move that caused shockwaves within the F1 community this off-season. Team owner Gene Haas was not happy with Steiner because of the outfit’s poor results. Now, several big personalities in F1 are taking brutal digs at Steiner, bringing up things that will surely hurt the departure.

While many don’t blame Steiner for poor results, former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher surely thinks that is the case. In fact, he also compared Steiner to a stinky fish (as per FormulaPassion), because of his poor leadership skills. The former Haas boss’ relationship with Schumacher was particularly bad because he sacked his nephew Mick Schumacher at the end of the 2022 season.

On the other hand, ex-F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone had negative things to say about Steiner’s popularity. The fact that Haas are competing at the back of the grid and struggling financially, but Steiner is still ever-popular, does not sit right with him.

“There has never been a boss of a team so bankrupt that he has become a superstar anyway thanks to a US series. In my day, when only performance counted, it never happened “, said Ecclestone.

Ecclestone’s comments, however, don’t seem to be aimed at Steiner. Instead, he talks about ‘Drive to Survive’, which in his opinion, made the 58-year-old so famous.

Steiner also has some supporters though. Outgoing AlphaTauri boss Franz Tost admits how difficult it is to handle pressure in F1. He says that he liked him a lot, but if the team needs a change, difficult steps must be taken.

Guenther Steiner is not interested in Haas or F1

For the first time since his sacking, Guenther Steiner opened up about his thoughts. As per SI, Steiner wants to take his time to assess options. He revealed that Gene Haas told him about his removal over a phone call.

When asked about what Haas’ plans for the future were, he simply said that he wasn’t interested. As for returning to F1, he is not sure when that will happen. “: don’t know if Formula 1 wants me,” he said. “Now at the moment, I’m very chilled out about the situation.”

Steiner went on to talk about how difficult the last 10 years of his life were. He doesn’t want to dive right back into it, because of how stressful it was.

Haas’ plans for the future, however, are ambitious. They don’t want to finish last or ninth anymore as team owner Gene said. They chose Ayao Komatsu as the new team principal, someone they hope will elevate the technical side of things at the Kannapolis-based outfit.

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Aishwary Gaonkar
What Are the Launch Dates of the 2024 F1 Challengers? https://thesportsrush.com/f1-news-what-are-the-launch-dates-of-the-2024-f1-challengers/ Tue, 16 Jan 2024 10:42:47 +0000 https://thesportsrush.com/?p=628723 The 2024 F1 season is inching closer day by day and teams are gearing up rapidly in preparation of a new season. Naturally, as tradition goes, all teams will unveil their car or car liveries in an official launch event ahead of the season. Usually, all teams schedule their car/livery launch events in February, one…

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The 2024 F1 season is inching closer day by day and teams are gearing up rapidly in preparation of a new season. Naturally, as tradition goes, all teams will unveil their car or car liveries in an official launch event ahead of the season. Usually, all teams schedule their car/livery launch events in February, one after the other. So far, seven out of the ten F1 teams have revealed the launch dates of their 2024 challengers.

February Week 1 – Williams, Sauber, and Alpine

The first two teams to confirm their launch dates were Williams and Sauber (rebranded as Stake F1). Both teams will unveil their 2024 car/livery on February 5th. Following this double launch, Alpine will be launching its motorsport season on February 7th.

The French team will also unveil their World Endurance Championship car beside the F1 challenger in their official launch event on February 7th. The French team will run in the HyperCar class of the WEC in 2024 with former Haas driver Mick Schumacher, as part of their line-up.

February Week 2 – Aston Martin, Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull

Aston Martin is the next team that has confirmed their launch date for February 12th. The Silverstone-based team teased its date with a fan contest for some giveaways and a prize invitation for the event. While Aston Martin moved to its new factory midway last year, they will unveil the AMR24 in the new facility.

Just a day later on February 13, the scarlet red cars will see the light of day in Maranello. Ferrari confirmed their car launch date last month to be on Valentine’s Day Eve. While there have been a lot of rumors about its 2024 challenger being 95% new and along the lines of Red Bull, things will get clear on February 13th.

 

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Ferrari will also do a short shakedown of the new 2024 car at their test track in Fiorano on launch day. Just like last year, it could be a fun atmosphere to see Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz hit the track in the new challenger.

Following the Scuderia, Mercedes will launch the W15 on Valentine’s Day – February 14th. Just like last year, the Brackley team is set to be ambitious on their brand new 2024 challenger and get back to the front. Many speculate the W15 to be completely brand new with no carryover of the old zero pod concept.

While Mercedes hopes that the W15 will enable them to fight Red Bull, the Austrian outfit is best prepared to tackle this challenge. Right after the Silver Arrows’ launch, Red Bull will be launching their 2024 car on February 15th. According to insider news from the Milton Keynes camp, the RB20 may be an “extremely fast car”.

Thus, February 15 may provide a peek at the 2024 championship-winning car, as Red Bull sim driver Jake Dennis has proclaimed. With all these launch dates confirmed, only three teams are remaining to mark their car launches for the 2024 season.

What is up with McLaren, Haas, and AlphaTauri’s F1 car launch dates?

McLaren have started their marketing efforts to kickstart the new F1 season. The McLaren Instagram page suddenly deleted and cleared all of its past posts on January 15th. It felt like a clean slate before they posted a couple of reels under the theme “Whatever It Takes”.

This caught the attention of fans, with a lot of chatter on social media about what the Woking team is up to. One of the reels consisted of a montage of their 2023 season. It showcased how they bounced back from the bottom of the grid, pointing toward a better start.

While the “Whatever It Takes” dialogue seems to be an inspiration from Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame; McLaren is probably aiming at that kind of a blockbuster performance level in 2024. There are outside chances that they may be a threat to Red Bull’s dominance.

 

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For the time being, they have not confirmed their launch date. But it may happen during the second week besides its midfield rivals and Red Bull. At least their marketing strategy is pointing towards a strong and positive vibe at Woking.

About Haas, they have been facing their set of troubles with Guenther Steiner’s sudden exit. After Steiner, Ayao Komatsu has taken the reign of the team, as the team principal. Gene Haas has been vocal about finishing better this season and burying their past performance struggles. So, as their restructuring carries on, their car launch date may soon get a confirmation.

AlphaTauri may not be facing any structural overhaul but certainly is undergoing a rebrand (rumors saying Racing Bulls) for 2024. Helmut Marko and other Red Bull officials had confirmed the rebranding and greater cooperation of the team with the Milton Keynes outfit. So, many expect the 2024 car of the Faenza team to be closer in concept to RBR. They are yet to confirm their launch dates.

So, which team’s car launch are you most excited about? Mark your calendars as February 2024 is going to be a busy month with all car launches.

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Aishwary Gaonkar