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Haas to open full F1 launch season

By Thomas Miles

The dates for the 2023 Formula 1 car launch season are complete and Haas will be the first to pull the covers off its new challenger.

The American team was the last squad to confirm its reveal date, but will open the F1 launch season next week.

Haas’ VF-23 will be revealed on Tuesday, January 31, three days before the next earliest, which is Red Bull.

Kevin Magnussen driving the Haas VF-22 at the 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Photo by Sam Bloxham / LAT Images

The 2023 F1 season will be Haas’ eighth since its debut in 2016, but mark a return to its former self.

The American team climbed to as high as fifth in the constructors championship in 2019 with experienced pros Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen at the wheel.

But after the team finished ninth for the next two seasons running, it turned to youth with rookies Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin taking over driver duties.

However, fast forward two seasons and Haas has backflipped, looking for more experience once again with neither Mazepin or Schumacher remaining on the grid.

Daniel Ricciardo praises Nico Hulkenberg after qualifying - Photo: LAT

Nico Hulkenberg put in some impressive fill-in drives for Racing Point in 2020. Photo: LAT

Magnussen was recalled last year and impressed with a P5 in the season opener in Bahrain and a pole in Sao Paulo. He will be joined by fellow returning veteran Nico Hulkenburg.

Hulkenburg has not raced a full F1 season since his final stint at Renault in 2019, but has still raced in a Grand Prix car.

The German filled in for Sergio Perez, Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel in four one-off appearances split evenly across the 2020 and 2022 seasons for the Racing Point/Aston Martin team headed by Lawrence Stroll.

Hulkenburg scored points on both of his drives in the pink Racing Point at Silverstone and Nurburgring, with the highlight a stunning lap to land grid position three in the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix. His best result in Vettel’s Aston Martin was 12th at Saudi Arabia.

The American team not only has a new driver, but also a new title sponsor, which could lead to a new look.

Moneygram is the squad’s third naming rights partner, after Rich Energy and Uralkali had brief spells in 2019 and 2021 respectively.

Haas’ reveal sparks an exciting fortnight in the F1 world with all 10 teams to show off their 2023 colours between January 31 and February 16.

2023 F1 team launch dates

Tuesday, January 31: Haas

Friday, February 3: Red Bull

Monday, February 6: Williams

Tuesday, February 7: Alfa Romeo

Saturday, February 11: AlphaTauri

Monday, February 13: Aston Martin

Monday, February 13: McLaren

Tuesday, February 14: Ferrari

Wednesday, February 15: Mercedes

Thursday, February 16: Alpine