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Hass will be ready for 2016 debut

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American team owner Gene Haas believes his new team will be ready for their entry into Formula One in 2016.

The FIA announced in December 2013 that they had opened the tendering process for a new team to enter Formula One as early as 2015.

The Formula One paddock shrank to eleven teams after the former Hispania/HRT team was dissolved at the end of the 2012 season.

So the news of a new team to enter the sport was excellent news, especially as in 2014 the Formula One grid shrank even further with Caterham falling into administration and only a last ditch move to save Manor Marussia prevented the grid dropping to just 18 cars.

Hass is a veteran American motor sport team owner, who has competed for many years in American motor racing, he co-owned the Indy Car team Newman-Haas which 1992 Formula One World Champion Nigel Mansell won the 1993 title with and alongside Tony Stewart, he now owns a team in USA’s top motor sport series NASCAR.

He’s also affiliated with Guenther Steiner, a former technical director at Red Bull and Jaguar and will bring a fresh approach to the Formula One grid as the teams new Team principal.

Hass F1 team will run with Ferrari engines and gearbox from when they enter Formula One in 2016 having signed a technical partnership with Ferrari, which will see the fledgling Formula One team run with Ferrari?s V6 turbo engine, energy-recovery systems, gearbox as well as receiving technical support.

Hass F1 has also benefited from the recent financial problems at Marussia.

Not only have they purchased the former Banbury headquarters of Marussia, they have also hired key technical personnel in the form of Dave O’Neill and Rob Taylor.

O’Neill has been appointed team manager and Taylor becomes Hass chief designer.

Ben Agathangelou has also joined Hass from Ferrari and he has been named as the new chief aerodynamicist.

‘A lot has already been accomplished for us to be competitive when we join the grid in 2016.’ Steiner told the BBC.

‘Our technical partnership with Ferrari has allowed us to develop our car and our people at an exceptional pace.

‘We’re committed to our plan, we’re committed to F1 and we’re on schedule. This time next year, our cars will have already been tested and we’ll be readying them for Melbourne.’


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