Gene Haas has finally confirmed a multi-year partnership with Scuderia Ferrari for supply of its power unit, gearbox and overall technical support, starting in 2016.
The team says the deal will allow it “to be competitive in its inaugural season and in the years following.” Rule changes for next year mean that teams can buy almost everything from a rival, although they must own the IP of their own chassis and bodywork.
In a statement Haas said: “There is no team in Formula One more accomplished than Scuderia Ferrari, and no team with more history. They’ve been a part of Formula One from the beginning, and now they’ll be a part of Haas F1 Team’s beginning.
“Formula One is the pinnacle of motorsports. It showcases the latest technology and is the most competitive form of racing in the world. Aligning Haas F1 Team with such a tenured and successful company in Scuderia Ferrari provides our team with the greatest opportunity for success in 2016 and beyond.”
“These are exciting times for everyone at Haas F1 Team and we are honoured to have a partner in Scuderia Ferrari supporting our efforts,” said team principal Guenther Steiner. “When it comes to Formula One, no one matches Scuderia Ferrari’s knowledge, technical expertise and sheer determination. We understand there is some heavy lifting ahead of us, but know that with their technical support, we will develop a team of talented people at an exceptional pace so that we’re ready to race competitively in 2016. We are focused on the future and look forward to what’s ahead for Haas F1 Team.”
Meanwhile Ferrari team boss Marco Mattiacci said. “A few months ago we joined forces with Gene Haas on a commercial level and this is the natural next step of our growing relationship. While our objective is to reinforce our power unit development program for all our customer teams, we believe this new partnership has the potential to evolve beyond the traditional role of supplying our power unit and all related technical services.
“The United States continues to be one of the most important markets for Ferrari and it offers many interesting opportunities. We look forward to supporting Haas F1 Team in its efforts to become a competitive player on the Formula 1 grid.”
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