IN PICTURES – The first photos of the new Haas, close to the Ferrari concept

It had long been hoped for the French Grand Prix. It is finally in Hungary, this weekend, that the new package of Haas arrived. The American team has in fact launched its first – and last (!) – improvement of the year, supposed to give it additional performance for the last ten races. For obvious financial reasons and because of production time, only Kevin Magnussen will be equipped with it in Hungary, Mick Schumacher being supposed to receive them at the time of the Belgian Grand Prix, just after the break (July 31). 

Due to the many existing synergies between Haas and Ferrari, it was obviously expected that the Haas package would be philosophically closer to that of the Scuderia. As a reminder, the Gene Haas structure is an engine client and has even set up in the neighborhoods of Maranello, even if both sides assure that the two teams are separate and that no transfer of skills or technology other than those authorized is carried out. 

A white Ferrari? 

In the pit lane of the Hungaroring, this Friday around 12:30 p.m., all the cars were out for the now traditional presentation. For once, the crowd did not take place around the Red Bull, Mercedes, or the Ferrari… but definitely the Haas. If they were not strictly speaking side by side, the two American single-seaters were located not far from each other, allowing a direct comparison between the old version still used by Mick Schumacher, and the new one in the hands of Kevin Magnussen. 

Here is the old version of the car, that of Mick Schumacher, with the pontoon at 90°. © J. Satis

Here is the old version of the single-seater, that of Mick Schumacher, with the sidepod at 90°. © J. Satis

The main visual change concerns the pontoons. And the observation is instantaneous: exit the very straight pontoon, almost at 90°. Instead, we notice a Ferrari-style pontoon, with a significant hollow that looks like a bathtub, like on the F1-75 of Charles Leclerc et Carlos Sainz. The only difference is that the shape of the pontoon of the red single-seater remains more wavy. To make its new components work, Haas also updated its floorpan and diffuser to improve airflow for better overall aerodynamic performance. 

Team boss Günther Steiner made no attempt to hide the resemblance to the Ferrari. “There are three different concepts in F1 this year, he explained in the Hungarian paddock. That of Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes. We are closer to Ferrari initially, so it was obvious for us to look at what they did and copy their concept. But it goes back a little bit because we had to put the car in the wind tunnel to see what it would do. »

Here is the new Haas pontoon, that of Kevin Magnussen with the hollow and slightly undulated pontoon. © J. Satis

A cooling vent has also been added at the rear, very close to the suspension arms, which have also been arranged to optimize air flow. The two different packages sported by Magnussen and Schumacher will allow the team to have a direct comparison and a clear idea of ​​the boost in downforce and performance that the new package will allow them to obtain. First answers this Friday, with Free Practice 1 (14 p.m.) and 2 (17 p.m.). 

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