Haas first team to reveal new look for 2023 – full physical launch of VF-23 car expected before pre-season testing; Red Bull revealing car this Friday; Pre-season testing begins on February 22, Bahrain GP season opener on March 5 – all live on Sky Sports F1
Last Updated: 31/01/23 2:06pm
Haas have become the first team to unveil their new look for Formula 1 2023.
Kickstarting the sport’s launch season with an updated red, white and largely black livery, the US team revealed pictures of their new VF-23 car online ahead of a physical reveal before pre-season testing at the end of February.
Their 2023 challenger – while not going through as big a refresh as last year after F1’s rules overhaul – is expected to look significantly different, with Haas currently keeping their cards close to their chest.
They will be aiming to build on their best season since 2018 after finishing eighth in the championship last year, and have a new signing in Nico Hulkenberg to partner Kevin Magnussen, replacing Mick Schumacher.
World champions Red Bull will have the first full-scale launch this Friday, in New York.
Haas’ reveal kickstarts three weeks of launches before pre-season testing begins on February 22-25.
The 2023 season then begins with the opening race, the Bahrain GP, on March 5.
Testing, as well as every practice, qualifying and race is all live on Sky Sports F1 this year.
F1 2023: When are the new cars being revealed?
| Date | Team | Location |
|---|---|---|
| January 31 | Haas (livery launch) | Online |
| February 3 | Red Bull | New York |
| February 6 | Williams (livery launch) | Online |
| February 7 | Alfa Romeo | Zurich |
| February 11 | AlphaTauri | New York |
| February 13 | Aston Martin | Silverstone |
| February 13 | McLaren | Woking |
| February 14 | Ferrari | Maranello |
| February 15 | Mercedes | Silverstone |
| February 16 | Alpine | London |
What to expect from Haas in 2023?
After three years in the bottom two positions of the championship, Haas were one of the surprise packages at the start of 2022’s revolution, scoring points in each of the first two races and notching fifth at the Bahrain season-opener.
Haas in F1 2023
| Driver | Kevin Magnussen |
|---|---|
| Driver | Nico Hulkenberg |
| Team boss | Guenther Steiner |
| Car name | VF-23 |
| Engine | Ferrari |
| 2022 championship finish | 8th |
| Best championship finish | 5th (2018) |
| Race wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 (best finish 4th) |
There were only four points-scoring rounds after that start, however, and Haas eventually finished eighth – which was still their equal best finish since joining F1 back in 2016.
Still benefitting with a close-knit partnership with Ferrari, who supply their engines, the major change from Haas this year comes with Hulkenberg joining the team to form an experienced driver line-up with Magnussen.
Hulkenberg, 35, returns to F1 after three years off the grid, when his stock actually increased with his fleeting reserve appearances. While highly regarded – particularly for his junior career and stint with Force India – the German still holds the record for the most race starts (181) without a podium.
He replaces Schumacher, the son of F1 legend Michael, who had a solid two years with Haas but ultimately made too many costly mistakes in 2021, as well as being beaten by Magnussen who only joined the team as a last-minute replacement for Nikita Mazepin before last year’s opener.
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Nico Hulkenberg says he is fresh and hungry as he prepares to make a full-time return to F1 for the first time since 2019 after replacing Mick Schumacher at Haas for the 2023 season.
Haas’ livery through the years
Haas had a black and gold look for 2019 due to their Rich Energy deal
The team reverted to white and red for 2020, though again finished ninth
In 2021 Haas welcomed a new sponsor and all-rookie driver pairing, finishing bottom of the standings
Haas had a similar livery last year, improving after F1’s rules revolution
What’s new on the cars for 2023?
While there is no rules overhaul for next year like there was for 2022, there are subtle changes to the rules and cars that teams can take advantage of.
The most notable is a higher ride height. This is essentially lifting the cars higher off the ground to help reduce the bouncing ‘porpoising’ phenomenon that affected teams – most notably Mercedes – in 2022.
This is done by raising the floor edge and throat, while the diffuser edge has also been stiffened. There is also an additional sensor to effectively monitor porpoising.
While these are mostly for safety reasons and are expected to initially cost teams time due to a stiffer floor, it could also narrow the field with a higher ride height thought to have been key to Red Bull and Ferrari’s 2023 cars.
The other changes to the cars revolve around outlawing designs such as Aston Martin’s rear wing and Mercedes’ front wing from 2023, and more safety additions.
The roll hoops, for example, have been strengthened following Zhou Guanyu’s dramatic crash at Silverstone last year.