Ferrari but not only: what's behind Haas's improvement in 2024

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At the beginning of the season, the Italian-American team was convinced it would play the role of the backmarker. However, in 2024, Haas finds itself aiming much higher than mere survival, reorganizing and equipping itself to dream of more ambitious goals, despite remaining the smallest team on the grid. Better human resource management has resulted in a more cohesive car and, for the first time in its history, the ability to carry out consistent development throughout the year.

The starting point
The radical change for Haas in 2024 lies in creating a car that performs better in races rather than just in qualifying. The VF-24 represents a shift from the 2023 project, which was unpredictable and required frequent steering corrections, quickly degrading its tires. The new car shows significant improvements in stability and drivability, with a much more predictable rear end, benefiting race pace consistency.

Two pillars underpin this revolution, one of which is mechanics. The VF-24 features updated Ferrari suspensions, with the rear adopting a new concept that integrates part of the mechanics into the gearbox casing. "I think they've made a great step forward," commented Technical Director De Zordo a few months ago. "It definitely works better, and the drivers are much happier this year." The benefits extend to aerodynamics, with the reduced size of the gearbox casing freeing up space in the diffuser area.

Aerodynamics is the other fundamental pillar of the revolution, as noted by Nico Hulkenberg: "It's all thanks to the aerodynamic platform; it's where we made the most important changes and the biggest improvements over the winter. This gave us the consistency and performance to achieve results." The results justify the strategy chosen in 2023 when Haas quickly realized that the old concept had reached its limits. The team then decided to explore a new philosophy, partially previewed with the year-end package in Austin. More than in the bodywork with downward-sloping sidepods, the change lay in how the car was made to work, gathering valuable information to fully embrace the new concept in the 2024 project.

Consistent development
The team's success also stems from its ability to enhance its foundation with continuous updates. "It's the first time we've made progress during the season. In previous years, we started with a good car but simply didn't improve," commented Magnussen. In past seasons, Haas produced one or two upgrade packages a year, often ineffective. In 2024, the updates are more numerous and beneficial. "It's something we've always struggled with in the past, but this year we've made several improvements, and more or less all the steps we've taken have met expectations," confirmed De Zordo.

The main development focus is medium- to high-speed corners, where the VF-24 suffers from a lack of downforce and some unpredictability at the front. "It's been like this since the beginning of the year, and we've worked in that direction with the updates introduced from China onward. GPS data from rivals' performance analyses show there's been improvement," noted De Zordo in late June. He referred to the package introduced between Shanghai and Miami, followed by the one in Silverstone, where Haas scored 8 points. A new front wing debuted in Zandvoort shortly after, two months before the final update package arrived in Texas. These updates yielded results, with 15 points collected between Austin and Mexico City.

Haas's focus on developing for fast corners indicates a project lacking in high-downforce setups but more efficient in low-drag configurations. When adapting to various circuits, the team decided to capitalize on this strength. For the first time, the team developed low-drag aerodynamic packages, a departure from past seasons when they merely trimmed existing rear wings in a desperate attempt to make changes.

"This year, we observed the car's actual efficiency and where we're more or less competitive," explained Team Principal Ayao Komatsu. "It was pretty clear which direction we should develop, whether for high or low downforce, since our car is more competitive on the latter type of tracks. For us, it was a natural decision to develop rear wings for these circuits." This strategy prevented the team from developing high-downforce wings, impacting performance at tracks like Monaco and Budapest. "It was a choice we had to make, being the smallest team," Ayao Komatsu reiterated. However, the results justify the decision, with 6 points collected between Monza, Baku, and Las Vegas, the lowest-downforce tracks of the season.

A more cohesive team
The car's on-track progress reflects changes within the team. In 2024, technical leadership shifted from Simone Resta to Andrea De Zordo, who, alongside new Team Principal Ayao Komatsu, introduced a new operational model. Emphasis was placed on internal communication, encouraging staff travel between the Italian and UK bases to facilitate information transfer, benefiting a more cohesive project. "On the design side, many things have improved in terms of procedures and staff interaction, allowing people more freedom to work. This has enabled everyone to contribute more effectively," De Zordo told *FormulaPassion*.

Improvements are evident in the increased communication between the trackside management team and the design departments. This proximity facilitates optimal setups while ensuring track feedback informs development, resulting in updates that meet the car's needs. By fostering internal dialogue, Haas has reaped the benefits of a team whose departments now work in harmony, aligning design with trackside management.

Looking ahead with Toyota’s support
The most significant news for Haas's future is its collaboration agreement with Toyota. The partnership goes beyond a simple logo on the car. This was evident when Ryo Hirakawa, Toyota's WEC driver, participated in the Abu Dhabi tests, underscoring Toyota's influence within the team. Toyota will provide expertise and development tools, including invaluable dynamic test rigs for suspension systems and more.

"They have many facilities that could be useful to us, such as test rigs we don't currently have, and they'll also help with simulation, another area where we're lacking," explained De Zordo. Discussions include delegating the production of composite aerodynamic surfaces and conducting TPC tests with cars at least two years old, aiding the training of new personnel.

The 2024 season is a clear statement of intent for Haas, no longer concerned about mere survival but eager to achieve much more in the medium-term future.

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