Each week we will preview a different F1 team and their outlook for the 2020 season. This week we'll start with our projected 9th place team, Haas, and go down all the way to our projected No. 1 team.
Overview:
While Haas, a team owned by millionaire tool manufacturer Gene Haas, has not experienced the losing skid that Williams has in recent years, they are facing something quite different than the Williams team: the possibility of there no longer being a Haas F1 team. At this point, the owner has said it is either win or go home, and time is quickly running out to begin stringing together victories. The newest F1 team, having debuted in 2016, was said to be a sort of “experiment” by Haas. He’d try the F1 thing for five years, through 2021. If no success, he’d pull the plug, and most likely reduce the number of teams down to just nine. With these circumstances said, and so close to happening, a high level of tension and pressure has developed in the entire team. Plus, the entire staff was recently furloughed due to money concerns with Covid-19. That is a large part of why Haas is projected to finish ninth in the constructor's team championship when (or if) the 2020 season is completed.
“He’s happy to wait longer, but like any businessman, you’re not happy to wait forever.” -Guenther Steiner, Haas Team Principal speaking about Gene Haas
The Drivers: Kevin Magnussen (Denmark) Romain Grosjean (Switzerland)
Starting out, both had the potential to be contending for points. Some even went as far to say that Magnussen could easily become the next Lewis Hamilton. In fact, he even finished ahead of Hamilton, the reigning world champ, in his debut race, the 2014 Australian Grand Prix , while with McLaren. However, when he took a chance and signed with Haas in 2017, his career did not take off in the way he expected it to. As a result, his recent performance has not been up to his standards, finishing 16th last season in the drivers standings. However, it is clear Magnussen has talent, it's just a matter of getting the best out of the car this upcoming season.
The same could be said for Grosjean, who has had an eight year career at the F1 level, racing four seasons with Lotus (now Renault) and the past four with Haas. While he has lasted a while in F1, time is running out for the 33 year old to prove himself, as he scored just eight points in 2019, his worst season to date statistically. That was partially due to the fact that he only finished 14 of the 21 races.
In Preseason Testing…
Haas did not do themselves any favors unfortunately, as the car’s fastest time at the preseason event was a 1:17, identical to last season’s. At the same time, their car has increased its speed capability, so as long as they can use that speed to their advantage, something they had trouble doing in 2019, an improvement could be in the cards. Both Magnussen and Grosjean also felt better in the car compared to last year’s. That alone is a positive for Haas who had two drivers frustrated with the car last season.
In the past
Although they are only four years old, Haas has made a name for themselves, especially as the only American team in F1. In their first race back in the 2016, Grosjean placed sixth in the Australian Grand Prix, scoring eight points, and making Haas the first team since 2002 to score points in its debut. In 2017, Magnussen came on board, and 2018 yielded the best season to date for the team, with a fifth place finish in the team standings.
In the future
Well, as you read above, there is a possibility Haas will not make it more than just one or two more seasons, so the future is rather uncertain for all in the organization. It is a tough place to be, but if they have gotten their car back on track, and Magnussen and Grosjean can pull out the performance Haas had said they’ve been capable of for the last three years, Haas should be around for a few years more at least. Gene Haas wants to win, though, so his team will be expected to fight at the middle of the pack, and score more than their 28 point total from 2019. Staying in the race, not crashing or being overtaken multiple times, will be the biggest key as Haas looks onto an uncertain future.
Fast Facts:
-Based out of Kannapolis, North Carolina, 50 miles from Charlotte
-In 2014, Gene Haas purchased Marussia F1 team’s headquarters following their collapse. The headquarters in Branbury, Oxfordshire, England, serves as a place to tune up cars in between European races.
-Prior to their debut, Haas was criticized by other teams in the circuit for partnering with Ferrari for engines and having a car that resembled Ferrari’s too much. Read more about it here: https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/11315032/haas-reject-ferrari-replica-claims-after-strong-start-to-f1-2018
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