F1 mid-season review: Haas seek better fortunes

It has been a more consistent season for Haas compared to previous years now it no longer has two rookies in the car.

The VF-23 has proven that it can produce great laps out of the box, as evidenced by the qualifying results for Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen.

During the race it has been difficult for Haas to translate this performance into results due to the high levels of tyre degradation. The team chose to ignore the early signs at the Bahrain Grand Prix, which has hurt it a key moments during the season.

As a result is level on points with Williams in the Constructors' Championship in joint-seventh, although Williams are ahead by dint of having a better secondary result with both teams having seventh place as its best finish.

Nico Hulkenberg

It has been a solid comeback for Nico Hulkeberg after his brief hiatus as a reserve driver for Aston Martin.

He was drafted in to replace the underperforming Mick Schumacher, who ended up costing the team too much money in repair damage throughout 2022.

By contrast Hulkenberg has brought the car home without getting into trouble on track, with a best race result of P7 at the Australian GP.

A cracking Sprint race at Austria after finishing in P6 ultimately ended in disappointment after Haas suffered from a mechanical fault.

There has arguably been a few moments where Hulkenberg could capitalise on his blistering pace in the changeable conditions in the last few races, but the tyre limitations of the VF-23 are proving to be problematic.

If they can turn things around in the latter part of the season, expect that battle for P7 in the Constructors' Championship to get heated.

Kevin Magnussen

It has been much of the same from Kevin Magnussen at Haas; producing some good drives in the midfield that occasionally scores points.

After a brief scare in the off-season due to a hand injury, Magnussen produced a points finish in the opening races at Saudi Arabia.

The best opportunity for a good points haul was at the Miami GP when he qualified as high as P4, owing to the red flag caused by Charles Leclerc in the final part of qualifying.

But much like his teammate experienced later in Austria, their tyre degradation problems saw him slump down to P10.

After 12 races in 2022 Magnussen was on 23 points and now he sits on two with just two 10th places. He will be looking for better form in the latter part of the season if he wants to equal his 13th place finish in the Drivers' Championship.