Haas F1 Team reveals date for VF-23 shakedown

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The Haas F1 team has confirmed that its new car will take to the track in a matter of days, after this year's brand new livery design was launched in a digital presentation on Tuesday.

The actual VF-23 - not shown in the initial livery renders - will receive its first shakedown at Silverstone Circuit on Saturday February 11, the team said in its press release.

“I obviously share everyone’s enthusiasm around the livery unveil," said team principal Guenther Steiner.

Gallery: Haas VF-23 livery in pictures

"Not least as it’s a checkpoint in the pre-season calendar which means we’re another step closer to doing the thing we actually want to be doing – and that’s to go racing.

“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," he commented.

"It’s an exciting time of year for Formula 1 and it’s great that we’re first out the gate to showcase our livery but our attention is firmly on getting the VF-23 on-track and preparing for the season ahead.

"The whole organisation has been working hard to reach this point and obviously in Kevin and Nico we have two proven points-scoring talents locked in behind the wheel," Steiner added.

"We really have something to build on following last year’s performances," he said. "I can’t wait to get started.”

Official pre-season testing will take place from February 23-25 at the Bahrain International Circuit, and the first race of the new season will be the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 5.

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.