Outgoing Haas Formula 1 driver Nico Hulkenberg claimed the US outfit is on an upward trajectory and will be a serious competitor in the coming seasons.
Ahead of the 2024 F1 season, Haas parted ways with team boss Guenther Steiner, a shrewd move by team owner Gene Haas, who realized the out-of-his-depth Italian was not the right person to lead the team forward after failing to make any impression in the team's development.
Steiner was more focused on getting air time on Netflix's Drive to Survive with his foul language and preferring to be the F1 court jester, something he actually succeeded in more than being an F1 team boss.
Haas opted to promote from within and placed Ayao Komatsu in the hot seat, and since then the team seems to have stabilized, and Hulkenberg claims the best is yet to come.
In an interview with the Motorsport network, the German was asked about Haas' future; he said: "I think the team is set up very well now.
"And I think it's a working organisation and I think we've proved that to some extent this year where with the changes that happened over winter.
“It [also] always depends also on many other factors. Commercially – what kind of partners do they have, what are the budget, what are the resources?" he pointed out. "That's obviously a key element in that kind of question. And I don't know that going forward, what will happen here.
"But I hear that there is some more exciting stuff in the pipeline for the team, which will only help them, I think, and I think Haas is going to be a serious competitor in the years to come, especially definitely next year still because the regulations are stable.
"2026 is an unknown for everyone, but the exciting thing is 2026 is a white piece of paper and that makes it so interesting for everyone who could do a better job than other teams and stand out," Hulkenberg concluded.
Hulkenberg will join Sauber, aka Audi, in 2025, while Haas will have an all new driver lineup with rookie Oliver Bearman joining, while Esteban Ocon will also be his teammate.
Haas are currently seventh in the 2024 F1 constructors' standings, three points behind VCARB, who are sixth.
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