Friday, September 11, 2015

Haas to debut car at first test of 2016



The new Haas Formula One team will give their 2016 car its first official track outing at the opening pre-season test of the year next March. That is according to the American squad’s team principal Guenther Steiner.

In recent seasons even existing teams have often struggled to - or chosen not to - have their cars ready for the first test of the year, but Steiner is confident Haas’s Ferrari-powered machine will be completed in time.

“On 1st March 2016, on the first all-team test day,” Steiner told Formula1.com when asked about its debut. “It could be that we will perform a shake-down one day before - on 29th February - but nothing more is planned so far.”

Next year is expected to see a reduction in pre-season testing, with the three (four-day) sessions of 2015 cut to just two (four-day) sessions - a change that won’t aid Haas’s preparations for their first F1 campaign.

“I wouldn’t say [it’s] a problem - it is what it is,” conceded Steiner, philosophically. “We have to live with it.”

Haas are hoping to announce their driver line-up later this month, with at least one experienced F1 name expected to feature, and will lodge their official entry for next year’s championship with the FIA in October.

(source: f1.com)