Haas F1 VF-16 Car Launch: 2016 Images and Details Released

The Haas F1 team have released images of their first car, the VF-16, for the 2016 Formula One season.

The team officially launched their new design on Sunday via their official Twitter feed:

Haas F1, who will be using Ferrari engines, have confirmed Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez as their drivers for their debut season in the sport. The team’s founder and co-owner is Gene Haas, who previously set up the Haas CNC Racing NASCAR group. 

They’ll also be the first American team to compete in Formula One since 1986, according to their Twitter feed.

Grosjean, who has been on the podium 10 times in his Formula One career, certainly seems keen to get going in the wake of the announcement, posting the following on Twitter:

Encouragingly for the debutants, Haas has told Jonathan Noble of motorsport.com that the VF-16 has already completed an installation lap ahead of Monday’s pre-season testing getting underway in Barcelona.

"We are good," he said. "The car went out and did a shakedown lap, and it is okay. It has been a long time [preparing]—it has been so long. But we are ready and now we need to get it done."

Andrew Hone/Getty Images

After the Manor Marussia team collapsed, Haas F1 bought out their base in Banbury; they also have headquarters in Kannapolis.

Matt Beer of autosport.com noted that Haas has put together an experienced engineering team for their maiden Formula One term, including former Red Bull man Gunther Steiner as the team principal. Beer also wrote that the relationship with Ferrari, which will allow the debutants to run “non-listed parts” from teams under the same umbrella, has been vital to Haas F1.

The founder has revealed some more detail about the VF-16, including where the name came from, per F1 Racing on NBC:

It’s always fascinating when a brand new team is in the garage and given the pedigree of Haas from other ventures, that excitement has been ramped up ahead of 2016. Indeed, it’s the first time in six years viewers have had a total debutant to keep an eye on; Lotus, Virgin and Hispania were the last newcomers on the grid in 2010.