Of the ten constructors that jostled for places in the 2023 World Constructors' Championship, it was Haas that finished in tenth position.

The only United States-based team in Formula One finished with a grand total of 12 points, firmly entrenching Haas in the basement alongside the likes of Alfa Romeo, AlphaTauri, and Williams.

Even so, a new season brings about the opportunity for advancement, and with every team - for the first time in the competition's history - entering 2024 with the same 2023 drivers, there's a chance to begin without growing pains. The first race of the season didn't yield any points, but it did give North Carolina's race fans reason for optimism.

Home fans set to engage more than ever

Headquartered in Kannapolis, North Carolina, Haas is the only Formula One team to be based in the United States, which uniquely gives them three "home" races in 2024. While not in the Tar Heel State, Haas will get to race before its compatriots in Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas.

Much closer to home, it's this year that the people of Haas' home state will join the sports betting scene. The first sports betting North Carolina has seen since the repeal of PASPA became available on March 11 via a whole host of world-class mobile sports betting apps.

Each of these new betting sites for North Carolinians comes with a whole host of futures and race day betting odds, including options of where Haas may finish and if Haas drivers will finish ahead of their more evenly matched peers. This all arrives at a time when Haas could very well climb out of the basement of the standings.

It was a big call to make, but reality hit home when the final haul counted a mere 12 points. Over the offseason, Haas overhauled its hierarchy, seeking superior performance on the track. Technical director Simone Resta and team principal since the inception of Haas Guenther Steiner both departed to usher in a new team trajectory.

A new era begins with promising signs for Haas

Now, the team's director of engineering, Ayao Komatsu, is running the show from the team principal role. Having been on the frontlines of the car development, it makes sense that he'd have the technical knowledge of what needs improving and how to do so. The main area to address was the tyre degradation that plagued Haas throughout 2023.

As the Formula One tech analysis details, Haas has made some fairly straightforward steps to evolve the VF-24. In the first test of the season, at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, the updated cars seem to have come out well.

Bahrain is infamously one of the most trying for those who struggle with tyre degradation, and yet, the Haas drivers either competed well or suffered due to circumstances beyond their control. Kevin Magnussen started 15th on the grid but powered his way to 12th by the end, while Nico Hülkenberg qualified 10th but had to stop for a new nose after an incident on the first corner.

The Haas drivers appear poised to be able to compete for points this season at more favourable tracks, which is certainly something for North Carolina's race fans to get excited about.