Haas F1 revert to old colours with a new car that has to deliver

06 February 2020 - 18:55 By Reuters
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The Haas F1 VF-20 has gone back to the team's old livery.
The Haas F1 VF-20 has gone back to the team's old livery.
Image: Haas F1

US-owned Haas became the first Formula One team to offer a glimpse of their 2020 car on Thursday with a return to their old grey, red and black colours after a difficult season in black and gold.

Digital renderings were released on the team's social media channels and website.

“The VF-20 has to deliver where our previous car didn’t,” said team principal Guenther Steiner.

“Last year was definitely a setback, one I would never have asked for, but you learn from such situations — we all have.”

The physical unveiling will be in the pitlane shortly before the start of preseason testing at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya on February 19 with Frenchman Romain Grosjean and Danish driver Kevin Magnussen.

Rich Energy and Haas F1 parted ways at the end of 2019.
Rich Energy and Haas F1 parted ways at the end of 2019.
Image: Haas F1

Ferrari-powered Haas finished last season ninth out of 10 teams, with only 28 points from 21 races.

After a strong start to the campaign, performance stalled as the team failed to turn qualifying speed into race pace and get performance out of the tyres.

Grosjean even reverted to the original Melbourne aerodynamic package on his car midseason to try to get to grips with the problems after an upgrade failed to deliver the expected improvements.

“Frankly, I’m hoping the VF-20 will return us to the kind of form we ran in 2018 when we finished fifth in the constructors’ championship. 2019 was a tough season to endure,” commented owner Gene Haas.

Haas F1 hopes that the VF-20 will rekindle the successes experienced in 2018.
Haas F1 hopes that the VF-20 will rekindle the successes experienced in 2018.
Image: Haas F1

“We’ve been through a real education process, one that comes to all Formula One teams at some stage.

“I’m trusting we’ve learnt from those lessons and have applied that knowledge into making the VF-20 a more competitive entry.”

The team changed their livery to black and gold last year to reflect an ill-fated title sponsorship and the branding of little-known drinks company Rich Energy. That deal was terminated after 17 races.

The season starts in Australia on March 15.


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