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Haas will shake down its 2024 Formula 1 car just under two weeks before testing begins as it prepares for the first season in its history without Guenther Steiner in charge.
New Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has revealed the car will run at Silverstone on February 11 and again in another shakedown in Bahrain two days before pre-season testing begins on February 19.
The maximum mileage granted to teams in promotional events, often called filming days, must not exceed 200km per day - increased from 100km for this season.
It means the new VF-24 should be ready to make the most of the three days of testing before the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
While this has not been confirmed for 2024, Haas has traditionally dropped a digital reveal early in launch season - so while the Silverstone shakedown should be the first opportunity to see images of the physical car, renders may be made available sooner.
Haas finished last in the championship in 2023 after a disappointing regression from 2022. The lack of progress and a disagreement over whether the team should be achieving more with its current facilities and investment led to team owner Gene Haas not renewing Steiner’s contract.
Komatsu, formerly the team’s director of engineering, has been promoted in Steiner’s place and has described the 2024 car as a “clear step” from its predecessor.
However, the lack of progress with the original VF-23 concept led to a significant change in aerodynamic philosophy late in the season, which Komatsu says has impacted how evolved the 2024 car is at this stage.
“We started so late, we changed the concept so late as well, and then by actually doing the Austin upgrade, we diverted our resources a little bit,” Komatsu said.
“So I'm realistic in terms of the car we put out in Bahrain, but not in a negative manner.
“It's not the fault of our engineers, they are good people.
“Then, the key would be whatever the car we have in Bahrain, whatever the problem we see, we try to understand it and then move from that point as a team.”
Komatsu is optimistic the team has made progress with the underlying limitations of the VF-23, which was capable of being quick in qualifying, then destroyed its tyres in races.
He said “a significant part of it” has been understood but that will only be proven “if we can produce a car that can deal with that problem”.
And when asked by The Race about how Kevin Magnussen struggled with the car’s characteristics, even outside of its Sunday weakness, Komatsu indicated progress had been made on that front too.
“I don't say eliminated - that's a big word,” he said. “But certainly we will improve on that, yes.”
He added: “It should [help], yeah. He's a driver who needs good entry stability and consistent car balance.”
