Haas Retains Duo Hulkenberg-Magnussen for 2024
Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg. 2023. Photo Courtesy: MoneyGram Haas F1 Team Media.

MoneyGram Haas F1 Team has re-signed its driver line-up, Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen, for the 2024 season, the American outfit confirmed on Thursday.

In 2024, the FIA Formula 1 World Championship will feature a record-breaking 24-race calendar for the first time, a test to the entire paddock.

In that regard, the Haas F1 Team agreed to retain its driver line-up Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen for a second consecutive season, giving continuity to their partnership and adding to the value of experience to face the longest calendar in the sport’s history.

Guenther Steiner, Team Principal, MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, commented: “It’s safe to say that we’ve had an extremely solid driver pairing this season in Formula 1, and ultimately, there was no reason to look to change that moving forward.”

Ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, the squad stands eighth overall in the Constructors’ Championship on an 11-point tally.

Steiner further outlined: “Kevin is obviously a very well-known quantity to us, and I am delighted he will return for what will be his seventh season in Haas colors.

With 113 starts for our team alone, we know where his strengths lie, and his knowledge and experience of our organization pairs very well with that too.”

In 2022, the Danish driver re-joined the F1 grid with the American brand, launching their fifth stint together. He partnered with Mick Schumacher at the time.

Talking about his journey with the team, Magnussen asserted: “My return in 2022 had been unexpected but filled with numerous highlights, and although this season hasn’t gone quite as we’d hoped, we’ve still managed to get into the points and shown potential in the package we have.

There’s plenty of racing remaining in 2023, and we’ve got a lot of work to do to continue to understand the VF-23 that learning can be applied into the 2024 car.”

My thanks, as always, go to Gene Haas and Guenther Steiner for giving me the opportunity to keep racing in the sport I love.”

Last season, the 30-year-old claimed the first pole position in the series for the team powered by Ferrari at the Sao Paulo GP Sprint.

On the other side of the garage, Nico’s simply slotted in without fuss or fanfare and proved himself to be a valuable member of the team,” Steiner added.

He’s approaching 200 starts in Formula 1, and we’re very happy to be the beneficiary of that experience behind the wheel.”

In 2021, Hulkenberg, out of a full-time seat, joined Aston Martin, acting as its official reserve and development driver. He was 33, and a return to the grid seemed unlikely.

However, opportunity found the German ready to perform and jump in the VF-23, moving into a full-time race seat, replacing countryman Schumacher, who is currently working with Mercedes as a reserve driver.

Last April, the 2009 GP2 champion scored Haas’ best-ever finish of the season, crossing the finish line seventh at the Australian Grand Prix.

Eyeing next season, Steiner remarked: “Kevin and Nico are clearly enjoying their time in the sport; they both have mature heads on their shoulders, and they fundamentally understand what it is we’re asking of them.”

In turn, now it’s down to us as a team to look ahead to 2024 and ensure we have a car capable of scoring points consistently.”

Hulkenberg, 36, who has added 530 points under his name in Formula One, has also found success outside the pinnacle of motorsport.

In 2015, he became the first active Formula One driver to win at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans since 1991.

Behind the wheel of the Porsche 919 Hybrid No. 19, teammates Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber completed the winning formula.

It’s nice to get things sorted early for next season to just keep the focus on racing and improving performance,” Hulkenberg stressed.

I enjoy being part of the team and share Gene and Guenther’s passion for it. We’re competing in a very tight midfield, and I’m looking forward to building on what we’ve done together so far and taking that forward into 2024.”

Cecilia demartini
Sports Pundit staff writer @ceci_2812
Cecilia is a writer and journalist, passionate about motorsport and tennis.Her articles are published in newspapers and international online publications.

Comment on This Article

0 comments
Reply to