F1: Has Haas Put the Winter Behind them After Car Launch

Haas F1 Team have launched arguably one of the boldest liveries in F1 this season for their VF-21, but early signs show the least development on last years car. The livery is a white, blue and red livery to coincide with their multi-year deal with title sponsor, a Russian fertilizer firm called Uralkali.

The team has two new, young drivers that have risen from FIA Formula 2, the formula that supports numerous F1 races ensuring Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher will be piloting Haas this season. The car, like every other team, has had little development due to the restrictions enforced but the American based team boss, Gunther Steiner, has admitted that; “Its no secret the VF-21 will not be developed as we focus our energies on the 2022 car, and, what we hope, a more level playing field.”

He goes on to say that the two new recruits will face tough challenges in this season’s car, but it should mean they are ready for next season. In fact, the car has only had the rear diffuser changed, as regulations dictated, so expectations will be low for this season.

Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time champion Michael, will have a lot of focus on him due to his name and dominance in FIA F2 last season, and states “I have never said that carrying the family name is pressure, and I am pretty sure I will never say that because I am very happy to carry that name back into F1”, going on to say he is proud of it and it motivates him every day.

His teammate Nikita Mazepin has created headlines over the winter, but made it clear in the eight questions he answered at the launch that he wants to put the incident behind him, as do, most likely the team, who had to put an end to the media fixation on the issue during said press conference. As it’s his sponsors who largely décor the car, Haas will be determined to not sour the relationship so early on.

Haas, who raced in a grey livery with experienced campaigners Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean last season, only managed three points, which was comfortably their lowest total since joining in 2016, and finished ninth for the second consecutive season. This could have been partly down to Ferrari engines, which was disappointing last season, but time will tell whether 2021 will look like another poor season.

Read about the last F1 Car Launch here: Aston Martin