Haas F1 may see a key departure ahead of the 2024 season, according to reports

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Just weeks ahead of the season, Haas F1 may see a key team member walk out the door

The 2024 Formula 1 season is right around the corner, with pre-season testing set to begin in just over a month.

However, according to multiple reports, Haas F1 is about to see a key member of their team walk out the door.

As first reported in the Italian edition of Motorsport, Haas Technical Director Simone Resta has left the team. As reported by Motorsport, Resta grew frustrated with what he viewed as a lack of “motivation.” In particular, the report references the lack of technical development during the 2023 campaign on the VF-23, which was often very impressive with its one-lap pace but struggled with tire wear during races.

For example, take the Canadian Grand Prix from a season ago. Nico Hülkenberg put the VF-23 onto the front in qualifying, where he was slated to start alongside polesitter Max Verstappen. Due to a penalty handed down before the Grand Prix, however, he started fifth.

He finished 15th.

According to Motorsport, Resta wanted to spend the team’s development budget on improving the VF-23, but owner Gene Haas wanted to take the design of the car in a different direction, modeled after Red Bull’s dominant RB19.

For a team hoping to improve after a last-place finish in the Constructors’ Championship a season ago, this is an unwelcome development.