In a first for the Haas F1 outfit, team owner Gene Haas will don his helmet and fire up a 2023 Formula 1 car for a spirited run up the iconic hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed later this month.
The 72-year-old American entrepreneur, known more for building CNC machines and bankrolling F1 dreams than burning rubber, will strap into the team’s VF-23 for a heart-pounding run that will entertain fans while celebrating the American team’s 10-year anniversary in F1.
But the boss isn’t going it alone. Team principal Ayao Komatsu, the man who stepped into Guenther Steiner’s colorful shoes last year, will also take a spin, driving the team’s more recent the VF-24.
Both men got their feet wet – hopefully not literally – during a private shakedown on Silverstone’s Stowe layout last week, ensuring they won’t be mistaking the accelerator for the brake when the crowds descend.
A Star-Studded Lineup and a Nod to Partnerships
Haas’ Goodwood festivities will kick off with Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Vice Chairman and former F1 driver Kazuki Nakajima, who’ll give the VF-23 its first taste of the hill.
This nod to Haas’s technical tie-up with Toyota, inked late last year, is no coincidence. The partnership’s already borne fruit, with Kamui Kobayashi recently putting the same car through its paces at Paul Ricard.
Meanwhile, Haas drivers Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon will also get their moment in the VF-23 spotlight later in the weekend, likely showing the old-timers how it’s done.
©Haas
For those craving a bit of nostalgia, Haas is also bringing out the big guns – or rather, the old ones. The VF-16, the team’s inaugural F1 car from 2016, will be on display, alongside the current VF-25, fresh from duty at the British Grand Prix and likely still warm from battle.
It’s a rolling history lesson, from Haas’ bold beginnings to its current contender status.
Read also: Prost and Mansell to reunite with historic F1 cars at GoodwoodWhile the paddock will be filled with historic F1 icons and fan favorites, it’s a safe bet that all eyes will be on the man who brought an American team back to the grid – now ready to bring his own unique flair to the most stylish hill climb in motorsport.
At least now, if the team principal or drivers complain about how tough the car is to drive, Gene can finally say, “I know.”
As a reminder, Goodwood's Festival of Speed will unfold over its traditional four days and take place from July 10 to 13.
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