Nico Hulkenberg, German Formula 1 driver for Haas VF-24, made a pit stop during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah on March 9, 2024. Hulkenberg acknowledged that teams like Haas will need to employ unconventional strategies to score points in the 2024 Formula 1 season. Despite qualifying in 15th place due to technical issues, Hulkenberg took advantage of his teammate Kevin Magnussen’s slower pace, causing other cars to fall behind. This allowed Hulkenberg to stay on track when the Safety Car was deployed on lap 7 and build a big enough lead to pit and come out in 10th place overall. Haas’ position in the Constructors’ Championship was elevated to sixth as a result of Hulkenberg’s performance, highlighting the growing gap between the top teams and the lower teams. Hulkenberg believes that capitalizing on incidents involving the leading teams and making strategic decisions that deviate from the norm will be crucial for Haas and its competitors. Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner expressed surprise at the widening gap between teams in 2024, as he expected a closer competition. However, he remains hopeful that Ferrari’s progress in development could challenge Red Bull in the second half of the season. Despite facing criticism from Red Bull and Williams regarding their tactics, new Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu praised the team’s collective effort in securing their first point of the season. Komatsu emphasized the importance of flawless execution and teamwork in their quest for a top-ten result.
