Haas have unveiled a bold new livery for the 2021 Formula 1 season, showing off its fresh white, red and blue colour scheme.
The American-based team will contest the upcoming season with a pair of F1 rookies. Mick Schumacher graduates to the top category after a successful Formula 2 gig, while Nikita Mazepin also joins the fold.
Speaking off Mazepin, Haas also revealed its new title sponsor. Russian fertiliser company Uralkali will join the team, a business part-owned by Mazepin’s billionaire father.
The new livery is supposed to reflect the Russian flag with its tricolour colour scheme. Still, it is a fresh look for the squad, which returned to its more traditional grey and red look last year.
Last year, Haas ran most of the season with an undeveloped car and underperforming Ferrari power unit. The finished a lowly ninth in the constructor standings, only one place above the ailing Williams outfit.
It was, therefore, a surprise to hear that Haas had opted to take on two rookie drivers for 2021, given that the team hope to surge back towards the upper reaches of the midfield.
Unfortunately, it seems the new car, named the VF21, will also go undeveloped through the year, with Haas expecting another testing season.
“We face a year of learning with the drivers while technically we look ahead to the future,” said team boss Guenther Steiner.
“It’s no secret that the VF-21 will not be developed as we focus our energies now on the 2022 car and, what we hope, will be a more level playing field.
“We all know roughly where we expect to be this season in terms of the competition, but we must ensure we’re there to capitalise on opportunities when they present themselves.
“But first we have to get the guys dialled in at testing.”
The car will not have a shakedown before pre-season testing, with its first outing expected to be at Bahrain on March 12.
