The dark gray, light gray and
red-toned livery of the VF-16 was derived from the scheme of Haas Automation’s
complete line of vertical and horizontal machining centers, turning centers and
rotary tables and indexers. Approximately 1,300 employees encompass Haas
Automation, with the Oxnard, California-based company exporting its machines to
more than 60 countries. The VF-16 showcases Haas Automation’s commitment to
technology and innovation to a passionate, global audience.
“Just as Haas Automation’s products
continually evolve, becoming better and more efficient, our methodology behind
the VF-16 was to make it the best evolution of a good F1 car,” said Guenther
Steiner, team principal, Haas F1 Team.
“We’re a new team, so we
looked at what the successful teams were doing to give us a baseline of the
direction we needed to go with our design. We have very experienced designers
who worked hard to develop all the little things from an aerodynamic
perspective that, collectively, add up to a lot. And our technical partner,
Ferrari, provided our power unit, and that really defined the rear end of the
car and how big it needed to be.
“Our goal with this car is to score points,”
Steiner stated.
“First, we need to go out
there and show that we can do the job, that we can finish races, that we are
respected by the fans and other teams in the paddock. Then, we want to score
points. That is the ultimate goal,” he further said.
The VF-16 tests at Barcelona
Feb. 22-25 and again March 1-4 before its debut race, the season-opening
Australian Grand Prix March 20 in Melbourne.
Source: Haas F1 Team