Haas VF-23

Lore & Background

The VF-23's livery was revealed on January 31, 2023, integrating the branding of MoneyGram International Inc., the team's third title sponsor after Rich Energy and Uralkali. The livery used red, white, and black—key colors for both MoneyGram and the team—and marked the first time Haas employed a predominantly dark color scheme since the Haas VF-19. A partnership with Chipotle Mexican Grill was announced on February 16, 2023, with the Chipotle logo appearing on the nose and side of the car during the three American Grands Prix in Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas.

Racing performance was mixed. In the first ten races, Hülkenberg qualified 10th in Bahrain on his return, while Magnussen scored the team's first point with 10th in Jeddah. Hülkenberg ran as high as 4th at the Australian Grand Prix restart, but a stewards' decision reset the order to 7th, denying Haas its first podium; a protest was rejected.

The team sat 7th in the constructors' championship after three races with 7 points. Magnussen qualified 4th in Miami, his best grid slot since his 2022 Sao Paulo pole, and finished 10th. After ten races, Haas was 8th with 11 points, level with Williams but behind on countback.

From Hungary to Italy, the team endured a barren run without points. Hülkenberg qualified last in Belgium due to a hydraulic issue, and both drivers finished a lap down at Monza. In Singapore, both drivers qualified in the top ten for the first time that season, and Magnussen scored his first point since Miami after George Russell crashed out on the last lap. Upgrades brought to the United States Grand Prix in Austin failed to improve performance, and the team slipped to last in the constructors' championship.

Reader's Guide

The Haas VF-23's significance lies in its role as the first 2023 car to pass FIA homologation and as the vehicle that marked Haas's return to a dark livery after four years. The car's season was defined by flashes of qualifying promise—particularly Hülkenberg's front-row start in Canada and Magnussen's 4th in Miami—that rarely translated into race results due to tire degradation and reliability issues.

The VF-23 also represented a new commercial era for the team, with MoneyGram replacing Uralkali as title sponsor and Chipotle joining as a partner for the American races. Despite scoring only 11 points in the first half of the season, the car briefly contended for a podium in Australia before a controversial stewards' decision reset the order. The team's failure to capitalize on upgrades in Austin and subsequent slide to last place underscored the VF-23's legacy as a car that showed potential but ultimately underdelivered, leaving Haas at the bottom of the constructors' championship by season's end.