Top-six finishes in their first two races proved a false dawn for Haas.
Nonetheless their debut season can only be judged a success as they finished ahead of three other teams. Perhaps most importantly, they were able to shift their priorities to 2017 sooner.
This was especially important for F1’s newest team. Their experienced principal Guenther Steiner is well aware that the second year is always tougher for a new entrant as it is the first time they have developed one car at the same time as refining another.
“We’ve been using a 60-percent scale model car in the wind tunnel since February, but from February to June we developed both cars (2016 and 2017) simultaneously,” he said. From July onwards it was “all hands on deck developing the 2017 car”.
| Best race result (number) | 5 (1) |
| Best grid position (number) | 7 (2) |
| Non-classifications (mechanical/other) | 8 (6/2) |
| Laps completed (% of total) | 2,126 (83.77%) |
| Laps led (% of total) | 0 (0%) |
| Championship position (2015) | 8 (n/a) |
| Championship points (2015) | 29 (n/a) |
| Pit stop performance ranking | 9 |
The team began life promisingly, completing 31 laps on the first day of testing. Despite teething trouble with breaking wings – a problem which recurred later in the season – the VF-16 was reliable enough to get to the chequered flag in the opening races, at least in Romain Grosjean’s hands.
They did have a large number of non-terminal problems as well, however. Grosjean was driven to distraction by persistent brake and tyre problems, especially in the second half of the season when 2017 had become their priority.
It was an even more trying season for Esteban Gutierrez, who never made it into the points once. He at least gave the team their first Q3 appearance, at Suzuka, before spinning away his chances in the race. He has not been retained for next year.
In every other respect, however, Haas hope to thrive on consistency. “We have a long-standing contract in place with Ferrari that we can continue the business model we are doing,” said Steiner.
“We are going forward like this for the next few years and then we see, we rethink. But at the moment we are very happy with Ferrari, what they did for us over the year to get again to the point where we are now.”
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John
20th December 2016, 11:48
I don’t like the relationship this team has with Ferrari. It shows how low Ferrari will stoop given that they failed to sign the future world champion Max. Now Ferrari know they will struggle to beat max fairly and now want to influence another team by being a commercial partner.
Haas won’t win a thing and neither will Ferrari. Next year is the Max show.
Andy Redden
20th December 2016, 15:40
Verstappen fan?
FONEFAN
20th December 2016, 16:13
How did Max get involved here?
Doon
20th December 2016, 16:49
What?
dbHenry
20th December 2016, 16:51
Odd comment, somehow creating something that has nothing to do with VES into a Max comment.
I think the relationship favors Haas more than it does Ferrari. Having a close relationship with your power train manufacturer seems intelligent. Especially if you are in your first year of competition.
Crash
21st December 2016, 11:43
Blackchat ? What – ? Please try to explain again..
Uzair Syed (@ultimateuzair)
21st December 2016, 15:54
Verstappen fans are mostly 12-year-old children, as shown here.
Jack (@jmc200)
20th December 2016, 12:37
I think their first Q3 was Monza
Joao (@johnmilk)
20th December 2016, 13:31
I believe you are right.
@keithcollantine
Bob V.
20th December 2016, 16:24
Indeed, it was Monza. Haas placed 10th in Q3
Andy (@andybantam)
21st December 2016, 0:13
Never forget, they had two years to prepare for 2016. All without the distraction of running an actual grand prix team.
I know they have resources, but their next car has been his been in development for a shorter period of time, whilst running and improving their current car concurrently.
This Ferrari parts thing, it has its drawbacks too. They will not know what they’re getting until the car is more or less finished, and they get what they’re given.
It’ll be interesting to see how they get on.
Crash
21st December 2016, 13:26
But isn’t it the same problems for teams using (buying) Mercedes or Renault motor?
And latest the Haas team proudly told that they have used the windtunnel time only for their 2017 car in most of 2016..so they seems to be preperred with the aero..
Hope the best for Haas…I like to see smaller teams doing a good job, taking points from the big ones – like the Lotus team did…
Crash
21st December 2016, 11:52
The Ferrari motor and transmission is not bad at all..combined with the right aerodynamics and some luck – this car could reach top 8 on a ordinary day and a top 5 when rain and accidents covers the day.. might be catching Renault too…a midfield top team with commen sense – allready having fans..so whats the problem, its good business ?