Haas F1 Team’s Historic Success in 2024: Kevin Magnussen Reveals Key Factor
Kevin Magnussen has shared his surprise at Haas’s unexpected success in the 2024 season. Despite initial expectations of being at the back of the pack, the team is currently holding the seventh position in the constructors’ standings.
In recent years, Haas has had a mix of fortunes. They struggled to score any points in the challenging 2021 season but showed improvement by finishing eighth in 2022. However, they ended up at the bottom of the table with 10 points in 2023. The new Team Principal, Ayao Komatsu, predicted a similar fate for 2024, anticipating being towards the back of the grid.
Contrary to expectations, Haas has shown significant progress this year. They earned their first point in Saudi Arabia and have been adding to their tally since then, surpassing teams like Alpine, Williams, and Kick Sauber in the standings. Magnussen, who will be leaving the team at the end of the season, believes that the first half of 2024 has been promising for Haas.
One key factor that Magnussen credits for their success is the performance of the updates brought to their car this year. These upgrades have actually made the car faster, marking a significant improvement in Haas’s history. The driver hopes that this positive trend continues in the second half of the season.
While acknowledging the progress, Magnussen also sees areas where the team can still improve. He points out the need for more consistency, highlighting the shift in performance between qualifying and race days. Haas has shown better consistency in races compared to last year, but small mishaps can still impact their qualifying positions significantly due to the tight competition in the field.
As Magnussen and his teammate Hulkenberg prepare to leave Haas at the end of 2024, the team will need to build on their current success and address areas of improvement to maintain their position in the constructors’ standings. The unexpected progress in the 2024 season reflects the competitive nature of Formula 1 and the constant need for teams to adapt and evolve to stay ahead in the sport.
