Sunday 7 December 2014

No regrets from Haas over delaying F1 debut

(www.foxsports.com)

Haas F1 Team founder Gene Haas has stated that he has absolutely no regrets having made the decision to delay his team's Formula One debut. The first ever American Formula One team were set to make their Grand Prix debut in 2015 however Haas felt that the time constraints placed upon the project would not have allowed the team to be competitive straight away.

Having the extra year to enter Formula One, Haas has given himself more time to prepare for entry into the sport with regards to deciding who will drive for the team in 2016.

Gene Haas has also decided that along with having his team's HQ in Charlotte, North Carolina the team will also have a base in Europe and his is hoping to have this base possibly in Milton Keynes where Infiniti Red Bull Racing and Honda have Formula One facilities there.

Haas F1 Team will use Ferrari power units in 2016 and Mr Haas stated that he hopes that his team's involvement with the Italian manufacturer hasn't led to the departure of a number of key members of the F1 operation such as former team principal Marco Mattiacci. Haas feels that by giving the team an extra year he will hit the ground running with the new team.

Haas has already confirmed that his team are in Formula One for the long haul. The Haas F1 Team will be the first new entrant in into the sport since 2010, when Caterham (then Lotus) Marussia (Virgin Racing) and the HRT outfit won the right to join the Formula One grid.

However in the last five seasons from 2010-2014 those three team's have ceased trading although the administrators appointed to the Caterham F1 Team in October are hopeful that the team can be sold and will continue racing next season. The Leafield based outfit managed to race in the final Grand Prix of the season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last month.

© Ben Johnston 2014

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