Haas has opted for continuity for next season with the US outfit extending the contracts of both Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen for 2024.
The experienced duo enjoyed a successful working relationship during its first season together despite a challenging campaign endured by Haas so far this year.
The results delivered by Hulkenberg and Magnussen have currently positioned Haas eighth in F1's Constructors' standings, with the German driver who returned to the grid full time this season scoring 9 of the team's 11 points in the championship.
"I think it’s safe to say that we’ve had an extremely solid driver pairing this season in Formula 1 and ultimately there was no reason to look to change that moving forward," commented Haas team boss Guenther Steiner.
"Kevin is obviously a very well-known quantity to us, and I’m delighted he’ll return for what will be his seventh season in Haas colors.
"With 113 starts for our team alone, we know where his strengths lie and his knowledge and experience of our organization pairs very well with that too.
"On the other side of the garage, Nico’s simply slotted in without fuss or fanfare and proved himself to be a valuable member of the team.
"He’s approaching 200 starts in Formula 1 and we’re very happy to be the beneficiary of that experience behind the wheel."
This season, the second year of F1's ground-effects regulation, Haas' VF-23 has demonstrated impressive speed on Saturdays, with Hulkenberg qualifying among the top-ten in four of the last six races.
However, it's been a different story for the American outfit on Sundays, with tyre degradation systematically undermining both Hulkenberg and teammate Kevin Magnussen's efforts.
"We’ve had to tackle our issues this season with regards to the VF-23, we don’t hide from that, but we’ve been extremely fortunate to have had two drivers whose feedback is invaluable in assisting our engineering objectives," added Steiner.
"Kevin and Nico gelled well right from the get-go and together they’ve both scored points, and in particular, Nico has excelled in qualifying – getting into Q3 on six occasions.
©Haas
"Having not raced in Formula 1 full-time since 2019 that shows you just how professional he is and how he’s looked after himself physically.
"Of note is also just how much energy both drivers bring to the table, they’ve been fantastic not only in terms of their engagement within the team, but critically, in our partner activations and fan facing opportunities.
"Kevin and Nico are clearly enjoying their time in the sport, they both have mature heads on their shoulders, and they fundamentally understand what it is we’re asking of them. In turn, now it’s down to us as a team to look ahead to 2024 and ensure we have a car that’s capable of scoring points consistently."
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