Hit or miss? F1 fans deliver their verdict as Haas unveil new F1 2023 livery

Toby Miles
Haas VF-23 Moneygram livery

Haas’ 2023 livery has arrived and the American team are certainly proud of the “sleek” design set for their VF-23, but what do the fans think?

Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg’s new machine retains the traditional Haas colours of red and white but a predominantly black livery brings a fresh look to the 2023 grid.

The logo of new title sponsor MoneyGram is planted onto the design, representing a major financial boost for the American-backed team that may see them meet the $140million budget cap.

Always among the grid’s smallest teams, the future is looking brighter for Haas after two tough seasons; finishing dead last without scoring a point in 2021. More performances like Magnussen’s fifth-place in last season’s Bahrain curtain-raiser and the Dane’s pole position in Brazil will quickly put painful memories to rest.

However, the final shape of the VF-23 won’t be revealed until February 11 when the car is debuted at Silverstone, with the paddock-leading livery announcement coming only on a render of a generic 2023 F1 car.

The design has been met with an overwhelmingly positive response, with the predominantly black and white design bringing back memories of the 1991 Tyrrell and the 2003 Minardi.

“Very well done. From the front its the VF-22, so it’s recognisable as a Haas, and then the side is just something else so lovely,” @duke_dragon28 wrote on Twitter.

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Max Levene added: “Love it, the MoneyGram logo reminds me somewhat of the lucky Strike liveries from B.A.R. Honda, which are my favourites of all time.”

“Cool one. Black, red and white can never go wrong… now please some performance too,” @shilpitewari added.

However, not everyone loved the design. @JackJeffree complained: “You know when a game gives you a preset and you can just pick three colours to slap onto it and that’s the extent of customisation? That.”

The 2023 season will be Haas’ eighth in Formula 1, during which they have rarely strayed too far from their original 2016 livery.

The 2019 effort was arguably the most radical and popular design, with a black and gold colour reminding fans of the iconic John Player Lotus associated with Ayrton Senna’s early days in Formula 1.

Last season’s livery reveal was shrouded in controversy after featuring the colours of the Russian flag. This prompted a World Anti-Doping Agency investigation into a breach of Russia’s two-year ban from all World Championship events, which stemmed from the emergence of state-sponsored doping practices at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

However, the design Magnussen and team-mate Mick Schumacher piloted for 2022 looked vastly different to the one launched in pre-season. All evidence of the Russian colours and title sponsor Uralkali were scrubbed off just weeks before the start of the season, as Haas cut ties with their Russian backers and driver Nikita Mazepin following the invasion of Ukraine.

The American-backed team will hope for a more peaceful start to 2023. Guenther Steiner can’t wait to get started, saying: “I like the livery, it’s undoubtedly a more elevated and modernised look which is fitting as we move into a new era alongside MoneyGram as our title partner.”

Haas

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