The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix delivered its final verdicts, with McLaren clinching the Constructors’ Championship, while Alpine managed to snatch sixth place from Haas. After Nico Hulkenberg’s fourth-place qualifying result on Saturday, expectations had clearly risen, despite the French team’s strong position thanks to another excellent result in Qatar.
However, just hours later, the situation turned around as Nico Hulkenberg was penalized for overtaking several stationary cars in the pit lane, a maneuver prohibited by the event’s race director’s notes. This caused the German driver to fall behind Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, who capitalized on the situation and early-race incidents to maintain a stable position in the top 5.
Thanks to the A524’s strength in cornering downforce rather than outright top speed at Abu Dhabi, Gasly managed to hold onto seventh place, just ahead of Hulkenberg’s Haas. This effectively secured sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship for Alpine.
At Haas, the disappointment of missing the desired result was evident, but paradoxically, this very sense of frustration highlights the significant leap forward made by the American team in 2024.
The VF-24 Was Often a Midfield Benchmark
Heading into the new season, the team was aware of the need to grow and progress, especially after finishing last in the Constructors’ standings in 2023. That year, significant tire management issues frequently turned strong qualifying results with the VF-23 into underwhelming race performances, barring a few standout moments.
As a result, the goal for the 2024 season was to fight for eighth place in the Constructors’ Championship, aiming to surpass Sauber and at least one other team. The prize money was a critical factor for Haas, given that over the last three years, the team had finished tenth twice and eighth once. As explained by Team Principal Ayao Komatsu, the lack of financial resources meant the team couldn’t fully utilize the budget cap.
Securing sixth or seventh place in the Constructors’ Championship was crucial on multiple fronts, as the additional prize money could significantly influence the team’s budget planning. Although sixth place ultimately slipped away due to Alpine’s late-season surge, Haas remains satisfied, recognizing that being disappointed with this outcome is, paradoxically, a positive sign.
Apart from the early races, where Aston Martin still held a clear advantage over the midfield, Haas had the fastest car in the midfield on several occasions. This success is attributed to the team’s development efforts, which had been lacking in previous years when limited resources prevented in-season progress.
Points Scored in 14 of 24 Grands Prix
Looking at the season’s statistics, Haas scored points in 14 out of 24 Grands Prix. Moreover, except for a few races—Belgium, Monaco, and Hungary—the team was consistently in contention for the top 10, securing six 11th-place finishes. This demonstrates that the VF-24 maintained a good level of competitiveness throughout the season, frequently placing Haas among the top midfield teams.
This consistency was highlighted by Komatsu after the Abu Dhabi GP: “I’m happy with the consistency we’ve shown because, apart from Spa and Budapest, in normal conditions, we were very competitive. There were only a few GPs where we had no chance in the race, like Spa and Budapest,” said the Japanese team principal. The Belgian GP result, in particular, was a surprise, as they hadn’t expected such a poor performance.
“In all the other races, if we had worked well, we should have been in the top ten. We finished 11th six times, but even in Bahrain, we could have done better. So, apart from those three races [Monaco, Spa, Hungary], we performed well in the other 20, showing consistency. Scoring points in 14 out of 24 races shows significant improvement compared to previous years.”
“Even in our best season in 2018, I don’t recall how often we scored points. We had a couple of standout results but weren’t as consistent. The improvement in consistency comes from having a good car, strong development, and effective communication. Seventh place isn’t sixth, but there are positives, such as consistent development and teamwork. These are all encouraging signs for the future,” Komatsu added.
Development and Team Communication Improved
At the start of the year, the goal was to have a better car than last season, thanks to significant development work aimed at addressing tire degradation. The target was to secure eighth place, but they exceeded their expectations. Beyond competitiveness, the team also improved in another key area: atmosphere.
“As a team, I think we exceeded our expectations. The atmosphere is good. The work culture has improved significantly, though there are still areas to refine. But it’s clear we’ve taken a big step forward. I’m very, very happy. Looking at the points scored in each race and our consistency, this hasn’t happened before in Haas’s history.”
“It’s very positive that we’ve shown we can improve the car if we work correctly and communicate effectively. This gives us an excellent foundation for further progress in the future.”
“I think it’s very positive that we’re disappointed not to have achieved sixth place. Our official target this year was eighth. We were coming off a disastrous season last year, and in previous years we finished eighth, ninth, or tenth. Achieving eighth place was already a tough challenge, but I believe we’ve shown that, even as the smallest team, if we work together, we can succeed. This is a source of pride for the entire team,” Komatsu concluded.
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