In less than 2 hours the Haas F1 Team will race under anger for the first time as qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix begin.
I’ve been tracking the Haas team from its inception, as have many F1 fans. But for Americans, it is an entirely new experience. We’ve watched F1 in marvel of the teams. We’ve supported the various drivers from around the world and have very few American drivers to back. But that is all changing now. We now have a team we can actually connect with.
The text from yesterdays team principal meeting has given Americans reason to be optimistic. I’m not going to quote the article, just paraphrase. It seems that Gene Haas has been accepted as a peer by the other team principles at the news conference; Cyril Abiteboul (Renault Sport), Toto Wolf (Mercedes), Maurizio Arrivabene (Ferrari), christian Horner (Red Bull Racing) and Gene Haas (Haas F1). given the opportunity to give Haas advice the other principals seem to think Haas knew what he was doing and the only concrete suggestion was to have good lawyers, which I think it’s clear that he does. But what i found astonishing is that there was actually suggestion that F1 could learn something from Haas about NASCAR.
Team owners are saying that I’ve long contended: as an engineer, Gene Haas is senior to most engineers on the grid. Technology aside, he’s learned 80% of what he need as a team owner from NASCAR. And what he did not learn will be easy for him to extrapolate. He is his own primary sponsor and carries full authority for his teams decisions, unlike any of his peers.
In addition, Haas loves racing. He has commented that he thinks they might have a better chassis than Ferrari. that is a bold statement from a first time F1 owner. But it shows a very competitive spirit. Haas is also on record stating that F1 drivers are not the best. He attributes the light weight of the car to support his claim…
Regardless, America has been waiting for Haas F1 Team. Gene Haas has given himself a two-year window to be competitive and learn the ropes. I suspect that two-year time frame is what he’s given himself to start winning. As a fan i’m ready to make bold mid-field predictions, but i think it’ll take a few races to get there. If they can finish 1 car in the first three races they will have met a baseline of reliability.
But for now… we are just ready for Qualifying. In two hours the Haas F1 Team will be on the grid, and they will be a team. I’ve been waiting so long with such anticipation I wont know how to act…. and I suspect I’m not alone. But regardless, Gene Haas has brought the Americans back to F1 and in a very proud style. We’ve heard many condescending comments from European F1 fans about Haas and their expectations. But now we can throw back. Americans are not fluent in the lore and history of F1. Our expectations are not set on the past. Our optimism is founded on a guy that is ready to take it to the world and a new FORD alliance for his NASCAR outfit. We’ve seen this before… dare I evoke the spirit of Carol Shelby on this hallowed evening? When that American Flag clad Haas VR-16 fires up its engines for qualifying and takes to the circuit, I’ll be thinking that competitive American racing spirit of Carol Shelby is alive and well. And perhaps Carol is in the back of the garage somewhere giving Gene Haas a big thumbs up! I know the rest of America is!
This is a very proud moment for American race fans!
Richie OUT!