By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief
Readying for their sophomore campaign, Haas F1 Team have revealed their 2017 challenger to the Formula 1 grid with the VF-17.
Electing to showcase their second ever car via online on Sunday following filming day at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya the day prior, the VF-17 features a darker livery than last year’s model.
The chassis is built by Italian manufacturer Dallara and features a thumb-like nose with sidepods similar to that of Ferrari’s SF70H, but slightly less aggressive as the main opening doesn’t have as deep of an undercut.
The technical partnership with the Maranello-based outfit is apparent and will be the only other team outside of the factory team to sport an up-to-date Ferrari engine.
Photo: Haas F1 Team
Guenther Steiner, team principal of Haas F1 Team, noted that everything on the VF-17 is new as the team also put an effort to create a car that had “built-in adjustability.”
“I think the pedal box is the same, but all the rest is very different from last year’s car,” said Steiner. “You always try to make a faster car, which is normally a lighter car. Now we can put on more ballast and get better weight distribution. The aero is completely new, as are the tires, so we needed to have some built-in adjustability.
“Aesthetically, the car has a more aggressive look. It’s lighter and more aerodynamically efficient. Everything we learned from our first car has been applied to our new car.”
After scoring points in their Formula 1 debut and amassing 29 during the season, good enough for eighth overall among all constructors, the expectation is for Haas to improve in 2017.
Romain Grosjean returns for a second term with the American outfit, and Kevin Magnussen replaces Esteban Gutierrez for the upcoming season.
The team readies for preseason testing that is set for Monday at the Barcelona-based circuit.
