Haas confirms Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen contracts after F1 email slip
Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen have both signed new contracts with Haas.
The two veteran racers partnered this season after Haas chose to axe Mick Schumacher last year in favour of Hulkenberg. But it was not a long-term situation at first, given the German was handed only a one-year deal, while Magnussen's contract also expired at the end of this season.
But Haas have chosen to continue with an experienced driver line-up for 2024. The team confirmed ahead of this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix that both have now signed contract extensions. It comes after an F1 Experiences email appeared to accidentally confirm their places on the 2024 grid.
The marketing email, advertising hospitality packages for next year's Miami Grand Prix, gave details of an experience with the Haas F1 team. As part of that package, it said guests would be given the chance to meet team principal Guenther Steiner and both drivers, naming both Hulkenberg and Magnussen.
Steiner said: "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. 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 colours.
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"On the other side of the garage, Nico has 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."
Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg have signed new contracts with Haas for the 2024 F1 season (Getty Images)The contract extensions for the Haas drivers mean there are now only five of the current crop of F1 races whose 2024 plans are not yet set in stone. The most high profile name among those is Lewis Hamilton, who has been in negotiations with Mercedes for many months, with no resolution yet in sight.
AlphaTauri is the only team with both of its current drivers out of contract at the end of this season. Yuki Tsunoda is expected to receive an offer of a new deal after an impressive season so far despite the team's uncompetitive car, while it remains to be seen whether Daniel Ricciardo's F1 career will continue beyond the next 10 races.
Zhou Guanyu is not yet guaranteed a place on the 2024 grid, though it currently seems like Alfa Romeo will offer an extension which will give the Chinese racer a third year in F1. Meanwhile, Williams still have a decision to make over the future of rookie racer Logan Sargeant.
As for Haas, Steiner hopes the experience of his two drivers will continue to assist in propelling the team, which sits eighth in the constructors' standings with 11 points from 12 races, further up the standings. He added: "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. 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. 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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