As F1’s two backmarker teams collapse, 2016 newcomer Haas’ plans continue to take shape.<\/p>\n
The teams that were ultimately known as Caterham, Marussia and HRT are all now gone, but Nascar team co-owner Gene Haas is determined not to make the same mistakes as his North Carolina based Haas F1 Team takes its next bold steps.<\/p>\n
“They wound up making a lot of mistakes,” the Californian told CNN.\u00a0 “Inevitably they didn’t have the resources, or the cars weren’t properly put together, because they rushed things.”<\/p>\n
Rushing is something Haas is not doing, having turned down the chance to debut in 2015.\u00a0 The year after, the team will debut with Ferrari support and power.<\/p>\n
“We’d be very proud to be a Ferrari ‘B’ team because that would certainly teach us how to run in formula one,” said Haas, 61, whose successful machine tool company is already an on-car Ferrari sponsor.<\/p>\n
Haas has now announced that it has signed up Adam Jacobs, who managed the Budweiser sponsorships in Nascar, to be chief marketing officer.<\/p>\n
“It’s a great opportunity to develop and launch a global brand in an organisation led by someone as driven and accomplished as Gene Haas,” said Jacobs.<\/p>\n
Haas, meanwhile, says he has no regrets about starting a team just as some sections of the media are declaring that F1 is on the brink of a financial crisis.<\/p>\n
“It was insane the number of people coming by saying ‘Great to know you, great to know you’re involved in formula one’,” he told USA Today, recalling a recent visit to a Chicago trade show.<\/p>\n
“Everybody sees we’re aligning ourselves with (the) ultimate motor sports project.”<\/p>\n
Gene has declared that his ideal 2016 driver lineup would be an experienced F1 driver alongside an American.<\/p>\n
“Even in the Nascar garage,” the co-owner of the Stewart-Haas team smiled, “most of the drivers now are shaking my hand.\u00a0 I think they’re interested.”<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, he also understands the scepticism, particularly with F1’s three newest teams all now out of business, and the last attempt by an American team – USF1 – having never even turned a wheel.<\/p>\n
“There’s good reason to doubt it — it’s a big undertaking,” said Haas.<\/p>\n
“Lots of people before us have failed.\u00a0 It’s a natural scepticism.\u00a0 That’s just a natural human trait not to believe it until you see it.”<\/p>\n
\u00a9 RIF | GMM<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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