Haas have unveiled their new racing livery ahead of the 2022 Formula One season.
The new livery containing the now traditional predominantly white livery with blue and red curved stripes will be ran on Haas’ VF-22 throughout the 2022 season, with Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher again behind the wheel for a second F1 season.
Speaking about the new livery and 2022 design, Team Founder – Gene Haas teased that he is “naturally optimistic” that Haas will be more competitive than in 2020 & 21 seasons, having focused all development throughout last season on this year’s car.
Haas also explained his rationale behind focus on this year’s designs as he added: “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 meanwhile insists that Haas can return to the competitive front end of the midfield teams after three seasons of struggles, whilst pointing to the new regulations as a sign that Haas fans can be “confident” of more fights for points finishes this season.
Steiner also paid tribute to everyone within Haas for their efforts on the VF-22 as he commented: “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.”
Technical Director, Simone Resta added that the VF-22 “is probably the most complex project” that the team has endured since they entered F1 in 2016, whilst also revealing that a new team of engineers was hired to oversee the creation of the new car for this season.
Resta though iterated that there hadn’t been a total clear-out of staff but warned that the team is still in the early stages of adapting to the new regulations so patience is important once the car hits the racetrack in pre-season testing.
Haas will debut the new livery at the first pre-season test at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain on Wednesday 23 February, with a second pre-season test set for Bahrain next month ahead of the 2022 season-opener which also takes place in Bahrain across 18-20 March.
