Formula 1: Haas become first team to reveal 2022 car and livery
Haas have revealed a series of digital renderings showcasing their 2022 Formula 1 car, the VF-22, which is the first to be designed under sweeping new technical regulations.
To promote closer racing, the FIA and F1 rewrote the rules, with the new cars featuring a ground effect floor, simplified front wing and dramatic rear wing – plus new Pirelli 18-inch tyres.
Having dropped towards the back of the field in 2020, Haas opted not to develop their 2021 car, in favour of putting 100% of their resources on this year’s machine in a bid to return to the midfield.
The VF-22 is the seventh Haas F1 car, and first to emerge from the American team’s all-new design office in Maranello, led by their Technical Director Simone Resta.
The livery is an evolution of last year’s predominantly white design.
Haas, who will once again run Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin, finished 10th in last year’s championship, and were the only team not to score
“It’s that time of year where you’re naturally optimistic that the hard work and effort of everyone will translate to a competitive entry on track,” said owner Gene Haas.
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“We made the decision back in 2020 to really channel time and resources into the VF-22, foregoing anything track-related for 2021 – which wasn’t easy to watch. Hopefully that decision bears fruit and we return to challenging for points and taking something from the weekends.”
Team Principal Guenther Steiner added: “We all know what the team is capable of, we’ve proved that in the past, and with this new car – born out of a completely new set of regulations and with our new design team in place – I’m confident we can showcase once again that we can compete on weekends.
“It’s been a tremendous effort by everyone involved and now comes the fun part of getting the new car to the circuit and dialling in all the elements. Last season was a long one but I’m confident that 2022 will see us back in the mix with the VF-22.”
Resta said: “This is probably the most complex project the Uralkali Haas F1 Team has dealt with to-date for many reasons. It’s a completely new set of regulations and this season we’ve brought in a new team to manage the creation of the VF-22.
“Not everyone is new but a good chunk of people have joined with a revised structure now in place. I consider this as a great success in the process. We’re still early in the project and going through a transitional season of working together on a car for a full year, but if we look back where we started, this team is already a success.”
As has been the case in previous years, following the release of the digital renderings, Haas will unveil the physical car in the Barcelona pit lane on the first morning of pre-season running.
It is anticipated that the car will look noticeably different to what the digital renderings show, with teams keen to keep significant parts of their design under wraps as long as possible, to avoid giving away any clever ideas they have had when designing to the all-new rules to their rivals.
