Steiner sets podium target for Haas after landmark MoneyGram sponsorship deal

Haas team boss Guenther Steiner is confident that the squad will be able to take the fight to F1’s top teams – and challenge for their first-ever podium finish – in the not-too-distant future, following confirmation of a major new sponsorship deal. Ahead of this weekend’s United States Grand Prix, Haas announced that payment company MoneyGram will act as their title sponsor from the 2023 season onwards – the arrangement between the two US-led operations set to include team naming rights and a livery change. READ MORE: Magnussen says Schumacher ‘definitely deserves’ F1 seat as wait continues over Haas driver decision After Haas ended previous deals with Rich Energy and Uralkali early, Steiner stated that he “couldn’t be more happy” with the team’s new backers and is looking forward to the partnership gathering pace. “We are very proud to have an American company as a sponsor, as we are an American team. I’m very happy; I’m happy for the whole team,” said Steiner, while also outlining that “all the markets we race [in] are MoneyGram markets”. “We started the dialogue at the beginning of the summer [and] it was a very good dialogue, once we found where we can work together, where we want to work together. Here we are, looking forward to next years [of] collaboration with Haas and MoneyGram.” Steiner went on to explain how the financial injection from MoneyGram should help to drive Haas up the F1 grid in the coming seasons, making reference to the sport’s tightening budget cap. READ MORE: Why COTA remains a favourite for drivers and fans as it prepares for its 10th US Grand Prix “We can now go to the [limit of the] budget cap and then everybody is on a similar platform. I always say with the budget cap, in the mid to long term, there shouldn’t be this problem anymore that you can’t fight for podiums. That is what we want to do and, with this team, I think we can make the step that in a few years we can fight for podiums,” Steiner continued. Haas are pushing to finish seventh in the 2022 constructors’ standings, but Aston Martin have edged ahead in recent races “I’m not promising for next year, because we just came back from two years that were very rough for us, and we came back pretty well and continue to improve, but I want to be realistic. I don’t want to send out messages of 'they’re going to win then' or what not, but this is the step to the next level for Haas F1, you know. “We can really fight with other people on the same level and it’s really down to us to do a good job. We’ve never been afraid to work hard or ask the team to work hard and achieve certain things, and that is what we’ll continue to do as long as I’m here.” READ MORE: Newly-crowned champ Verstappen ‘not too stressed’ about Red Bull constructors’ title hopes at Austin Haas’s best constructors’ classification came back in 2018, when the team finished fifth, but they slumped to the bottom of the standings last season. With four races to go in 2022, Steiner’s outfit sit eighth overall, level on points with AlphaTauri and 11 behind Aston Martin. via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com

'That was some driving' Magnussen applauds Vettel's last gasp overtake as Haas finally get back in the points

Haas started their home race weekend on a high thanks to a new title sponsorship deal for next season, and they ended it in the ascendency too after scoring their first points since Austria courtesy of Kevin Magnussen’s stellar drive to P8. The Dane had started 13th and found himself running last after being baulked by the spinning Ferrari of Carlos Sainz on the first lap. He then put in a superb stint as he climbed back through the field, being the only driver to gamble on a one-stop strategy. Although he lost out to the more freshly shod Sebastian Vettel on a thrilling last lap, he was pretty satisfied with how his afternoon went. “I’m super happy. For us as a team, it’s very important to get these points at our home race in the US – and it’s very big on the weekend that we announce a great title sponsor with MoneyGram – it couldn’t come at a better time,” he said afterwards. READ MORE: Steiner sets podium target for Haas after landmark MoneyGram sponsorship deal 2022 United States Grand Prix: Vettel and Magnussen's amazing late scrap for P8 That last lap overtake by Vettel had the fans on their feet, with the German trying to get alongside the Haas through multiple corners and Magnussen playing fair and giving him enough room as he slithered around in defence, trying to extract any remaining grip from 38-lap old medium tyres. “Of course, I’m gutted to lose a position to Sebastian. I have to say it was some driving from him, that’s when you really realise why he’s a four-time world champion,” Magnussen continued, the racer in him coming to the fore. "As much as it p***** me off it was impressive to see. “The strategy that we pulled off was purely by guidance with the team. As such a small team to put on a fight like this, it’s great.” READ MORE: 6 Winners and 5 Losers from the United States Grand Prix - Who got the crowd on their feet in Austin? While their strategy could have been viewed as a gamble, team boss Guenther Steiner didn’t see it that way, with a Plan B always in mind. “The whole team did a fantastic job, you cannot ask for more as the car was fast and Kevin was sure he could get to the end with his tyres,” he said. “I wouldn’t say we took a gamble, we took a chance, but we had a back up strategy to go onto the soft tyres and we brought home some points.” via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com

Haas reveal tweaked logo and official team name following arrival of new title sponsor

Haas have revealed an updated team logo and new official team name ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season, fresh from signing payment company MoneyGram as their new title sponsor. Haas announced their partnership with MoneyGram at last year’s United States Grand Prix, the team’s home race, in a deal that is also set to include a livery change. READ MORE: Steiner sets podium target for Haas after landmark MoneyGram sponsorship deal And on Wednesday, Haas showcased a tweaked logo on their website and social media channels, incorporating MoneyGram’s insignia, along with a new official team name: MoneyGram Haas F1 Team. Commenting on the start of the new arrangement between the two US-led operations, Haas team boss Guenther Steiner said: “We’re delighted we’ve hit January and will now officially be known as MoneyGram Haas F1 Team. “When we announced MoneyGram’s title partnership with us back in October at the United States Grand Prix, this was the date we looked forward to as it’s a new year and a new name for us, complete with a new logo to launch.” Haas, who finished eighth in last year’s constructors’ standings, head into the 2023 season with a new driver line-up, as Nico Hulkenberg replaces Mick Schumacher – now a Mercedes reserve driver – alongside incumbent Kevin Magnussen. READ MORE: Steiner credits Magnussen for becoming ‘more mature’ on F1 return and tips Dane to get ‘even better’ “We have an exciting few weeks ahead with the livery reveal and then the launch of this year’s car, the VF-23, coming soon. After that we’re into pre-season testing then the season begins in earnest in Bahrain,” added Steiner. “Everyone at MoneyGram Haas F1 Team is raring to go alongside our new driver line-up of Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg. We can’t wait to get started. MoneyGram Haas F1 Team – it has a good ring to it!” via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com