Haas reveal first images and film of the actual VF23 at Silverstone shakedown

Haas have revealed the first images of the actual VF23 ahead of the car’s shakedown run at Silverstone on Saturday.

Haas were the first to reveal their livery for the new season at the end of January, but were open about the fact that the images released were of the team’s 2022 chassis.

With the American outfit gearing up for their first taste of on-track action in 2023 on Saturday – following in the footsteps of Alfa Romeo and Red Bull, the only other teams known to have already conducted shakedown runs with their new cars – Haas have released images of the VF23 in team photos from the factory.

Team principal Guenther Steiner and drivers Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg appear to have been carefully positioned for the images, which offer no clear view of the front wing but do seem to confirm that the VF23 will feature a revised roll hoop and sidepods.

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The first glimpse of the real car comes after it emerged that the black colour that dominates the VF23 livery is not paint but bare carbon fibre, after several teams peeled off the paintwork to combat weight issues throughout last season.

The wait is over! The #VF23 is on track for the first time 🙌#HaasF1 pic.twitter.com/btFfYp4RuY

— MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) February 11, 2023

Haas come into the new campaign off the back of their most productive season in years in 2022, in which Magnussen claimed the team’s first-ever pole position in Brazil and helped them to eighth in the Constructors’ Championship.

With the team welcoming MoneyGram as their title sponsor for 2023, Steiner recently claimed Haas will be in a better position to improve the car this season having brought few developments across 2020/21.

He said: “We want to invest the money in the car.

“At the moment, whatever we have got, we invest in the car. There is nothing that you want to do outside at the moment. The system we have got, we just want to stabilise it and just make sure that we use everything to make the car go quick, nothing else.”

Following the launch of the VF23, eponymous team owner Gene Haas revealed the team’s aim is to build on the foundations of last season.

“We head into a new season buoyed by some strong team performances last year and a return to points paying finishes.

“The aim for the 2023 season is naturally to do that more consistently and with Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg, I certainly believe we’ve got an experienced driver pairing more than capable of delivering those points on a Sunday.”