The Haas VF-24, the first 2024 F1 car to break cover (at least in rendered form), appears to be a direct development of the updated VF-23 Performed in Austin last year.
This results in the car moving towards a higher, heavier profile front end which was a general theme among almost all teams last season. But it takes it further by taking advantage of the new bodywork to move some of the radiator area up around the center line of the car and move the lower side crash bar down.
FIRST LOOK: Haas shows off a new look for the 2024 contender as the color is revealed
This allows for greater sculpting of the side fascias, the idea being to provide greater separation between the airflow around the radiator inlets and that along the edges of the floor – enhancing vortex propagation as the airflow descends down the side of the car. Front side towards the edge of the floor.
The stronger this vortex, the more help the floor edges can provide in promoting airflow between the rear wheel and diffuser. This in turn increases the strength of the subfloor, which increases downforce.
The change in the location of the radiator area is also evident in the increased size of the air box on the hood.
These changes are actually quite similar to those made by McLaren in Austria last year and Alfa Romeo, AlphaTauri and Alpine in Singapore and reflect the trends set by Red Bull. Haas now looks visually updated with the late-season 23 cars, and has moved away from the original massive Ferrari-influenced side fascias.
GALLERY: Every angle of Haas' new look for the 2024 F1 season
The suspension – which Ferrari supplies along with the power unit and gearbox – remains front-pull-rod/rear-pull-rod, giving an early indication that Ferrari has kept that layout too, in contrast to the front-pull-rod/rear-pull-rod of the Red Paul last year. And McLaren.
Team principal Ayo Komatsu sums up the car as follows: “In terms of the physical changes, as everyone knows, when we did the upgrade in Austin this was the concept followed for this year's car – but because there were physical limitations on the side impact structure, the air duct arrangement and the cooling arrangement “We couldn't implement the full VF-24 type concept. I knew exactly where we were going this year, but everyone saw the preview in Austin.”
Komatsu urges keeping expectations for the car, at least in its early-season form, under control, “because we started late and then took two months off to do the Austin upgrade. That did divert resources, so we lost time there, but the team is finding good gains in the tunnel.” Wind, so that's positive and in terms of characteristics, it's going in the right direction.
Formula 1 launch: When will teams introduce their new cars for the 2024 season?
“The Austin package means that the VF-24 launch vehicle may not be as advanced as it could be, but at the same time we have more confidence in what we have on track now. We are all realistic that our launch vehicle in Bahrain will not necessarily turn heads, but our focus is Get to work with the VF-24, understand the vehicle, and then determine the correct path to upgrade the vehicle.
