Having been the first to launch their 2023 livery, Haas was one of the last to officially unveil their new-for-this-season car, taking the covers off in the Bahrain pit lane.

This year’s pre-season events saw several teams, including reigning World Champions Red Bull, opt for livery launches while keeping their cars hidden until the last minute.

That minute arrived on Thursday morning as the teams prepared to hit the track for the season-opening testing, a three-day outing at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Haas, as they did last season, unveiled their car in the pit lane with Kevin Magnussen and his new team-mate Nico Hulkenberg taking the covers off the VF-23.

The Ferrari-powered car once again bears resemblance to Ferrari’s F1 cars with its more bathtub-style sidepod design with a steep undercut beneath the front of the sidepod.

Haas have also adopted the two-tier step section at the front of the floor that Ferrari used last season while the engine cover and shark fin bodywork have been revised.

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Steiner has already talked up Ferrari’s revised engine, saying he’s been told it “goes like a rocket”.

He’s hoping this season the team can once again take a step forward having finished P8 last year.

“In 2023, we want to grow further,” he said. “The goal is to make another step up in the final standings, to fight for points every race and one day make the podium.”

Haas technical director Simone Resta has already implied the team will go heavy with the upgrades this season after opting for just one major one last season, a plan that didn’t go in the team’s favour.

This year Formula 1 can expect to see new bits and bobs more regularly, but Resta isn’t setting a timeline for the upgrades.

“On upgrades, I think it’s probably one of the most ‘fashionable’ arguments in Formula 1 and I won’t spoil the surprise for anyone,” Resta said.

“For sure, we’ll have a stronger program of upgrades compared to last year and we are still working on that, we are at the very beginning.

“We’ve just defined the launch car, so the team is working on it, we have our roadmap, but it’s very early to say exactly what we’ll do and when.”

Hulkenberg will drive the car in Thursday morning’s opening session with Magnussen taking over in the afternoon.

The two will continue to alternate morning and afternoon sessions on Friday and Saturday.

The article From first livery launch to one of the last cars to be unveiled, it’s the Haas VF-23 appeared first on Planetf1.com.