Report: Haas technical director Simone Resta leaves team

Field Level Media|published: Wed 10th January, 12:34 2024

Nov 16, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Haas F1 driver Nico Hulkenberg of Germany (27) during free practice at Las Vegas Strip Circuit. credits: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Technical Director Simone Resta has left Haas' Formula 1 team ahead of the 2024 season, according to a report by Motorsport.com.

Resta, 53, joined Haas in 2021 after two separate tenures with Ferrari. It was part of an agreement between the two teams that have worked together on the technical side since Haas entered F1 in 2016.

However, Haas is coming off a disappointing 2023 season in which it finished last in the constructors standings. Drivers Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg often showed speed during qualifying sessions, only to be undone with tire degradation issues come race day.

Haas introduced a technical upgrade when F1 arrived in Austin, but it failed to deliver a significant improvement and Hulkenberg opted for the previous spec package for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. According to the report, the change in approach led to Resta stepping away from the team.

Hulkenberg finished 16th in the drivers standings with nine points last year, while Magnussen managed only three in finishing 19th out of 22 drivers who raced during the season.

Resta is expected to return to Ferrari or move to the Stake F1 team, according to the report. He served as Ferrari's chief designer from 2014-18 before returning to the team in 2019 after a short tenure as Alfa Romeo's technical director. Sauber is transitioning to Stake F1 from the Alfa Romeo brand this year.

—Field Level Media.

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